Boys & Girls Clubs, one in Santa Paula and one in Fillmore, remain open, other locations closing
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: January 29, 2010
Two will remain open, but three Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley clubhouses are being temporarily shuttered as a cost-saving measure including Santa Paula’s East Harvard Boulevard facility, which had been expected to close for already planned renovations.
According to a written statement, board directors have been tackling a “reorganization and revitalization strategy the last three months that has brought needed change and enhanced communication and partnerships through both communities of Santa Paula and Fillmore.”
In November then club CEO Doug Caldwell announced that due to fiscal concerns the nonprofit organization’s five clubhouses would close in 24 hours. Trustees scrambled to deny the action outlined in a letter to club kid’s parents, placed Caldwell on administrative leave, and brought in volunteer Sheila Tate to act as Interim CEO.
Tuesday’s announcement stated the closures were prompted “in order to strengthen service delivery and to ensure stability,” and the three locations will be closed effective Sunday, January 31. The Santa Paula Las Piedras Park Clubhouse located at 431 13th St. will remain open, as will the Fillmore Clubhouse located on 1st Street. Tate said the approximately 17 children daily who attend the Harvard Clubhouse would be transferred to Las Piedras Park.
Although the Harvard Boulevard main clubhouse has been targeted for an extensive renovation project, the closure of the location now is also a cost-cutting move. The club has grants to fund the project that will rebuild the exterior public restrooms, remodel and enlarge the clubhouse entrance, update wiring and install heating and air conditioning.
“The positives,” said Tate, are “I think we’re done with the bad news while still providing quality programs and being an effective, vibrant organization. I think we’re headed in the right direction now.”
Tate plans next week on presenting to the club’s board of directors a balanced budget that she said incorporates the recent reduction of clubhouse facilities and not replacing a handful of open positions. “I think we’re moving; I think from now on people will be hearing good news about us, about the quality of our programs.”
The Rancho Sespe Clubhouse serves about 20 children whose parents have been notified that bus service to the Fillmore clubhouse will be available at a cost of $16 a month. “It’s a tremendous service” that will offer school pickup and then transportation back to Rancho Sespe following club activities.
Tate said the bus service could also be provided to children in Piru. “With the transportation they get a lot of good things... tutoring, relationship classes, healthy activities.”
Transportation will have to be arranged for children who are transferred from the East Harvard Boulevard Clubhouse to the Las Piedras facility. Overall, said Tate, “The club remains a good healthy place for kids to be where they are well supervised.”
The club will be serving 638 children daily at the Las Piedras and Fillmore clubhouses, and through the ASPIRE program at six Santa Paula school sites. Club members take part in programs that help promote education, good health, and positive social interaction. The club concentrates on five core areas of childhood development: education and career development, the arts, health and life skills, sports, fitness and recreation, and character and leadership development.
