Bluffton Family Recreation announces plans for an online school program for both Bluffton schools and Hancock County Schools for this fall, according to Daniel Tinch, BFR executive director.

The programs assist parents unable to be at home with their children during the online school days.

Both programs are for students ages 5 to 12.

Both programs allow students to complete online schoolwork in a supervised setting with academic help provided by Bluffton University Study Buddies (education majors).

Bluffton program
The Bluffton program offers classes on Fridays, when Bluffton schools will go remote. BFR will be open to students from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays.

The cost is $20 per day to BFR members (program participants $40 per day). Tinch said that a one-month youth membership is only $20, which automatically reduces the weekly student fee from $40 to $20. Lunches in the Bluffton program will be provided by Blanchard Valley Health System’s Bluffton Hospital.

Hancock County program
The Hancock County program offers classes Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday, when Hancock classes go remote. BFR will be open to students from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on those days.

The cost is $60 per week to BFR members (program participants $120 per week). Tinch said that a one-month youth membership is only $20, which automatically reduces the weekly student fee from $120 to $60 for non-members.

Space in the both programs are limited and Tinch recommends parents to register students as soon as possible by calling BFR at 419-358-4150. BFR is located at 215 Snider Road, Bluffton.

After school program
Both programs offer an after-school program option. “After school hours, we will have organized activities built around the core values of respect, confidence, purpose and leadership,” said Tinch.