Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta recently opened its newest location. The Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County opened on Thursday, August 19. B&GC expects to serve up to 200 kids and teens each day. The club is located at the former Henry County Middle School in McDonough.
The Club is actively recruiting full and part-time staff. Applicants can inquire and apply for open positions at www.bgcma.org/careers. Families who are interested in enrolling their kids & teens should complete a pre-application interest form at https://tinyurl.com/EnrollHenryCounty.
Boys & Girls Club
Henry County previously collaborated with Boys & Girls Club of Central Georgia to open a new club. Earlier this year, B&GC made the decision for Henry County’s location to instead operate through metro Atlanta. The county approved an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) with B&GC earlier this month.
In the agreement, the county will provide $300,000 for the 2021-2022 operating year. This includes $150k in start-up costs and $150k for annual expenses. In addition, the county will provide another $150,000 during the 2022-23 year. The previous agreement with central Georgia called for $150k in three subsequent years. The new agreement covers two years only. It maintains the county’s total pledge of $450,000.
The city of McDonough is also contributing to costs. The city had a similar agreement for $450,000. Finally, the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation committed $1 million dollars.
Henry County Middle School
Henry County Schools opened McDonough Middle & High School in August 2019. Since then, the district has converted Henry County Middle School into several uses. The former HCMS is located at 166 Holly Smith Drive off Phillips Drive.
Boys & Girls Club leases the gymnasium space within the building. Renovations are underway to repurpose the club space to include a learning center, computer lab, arts & crafts center, music studio, game room, multipurpose room and gym.
In addition to B&GC, the former middle school is now home to the school district’s Learning & Support Center. The center houses several departments as well as the new district welcome center. The welcome center opened in July. It offers a centralized location for new students and parents to enroll in Henry County Schools.
Portions of this article copied from the B&GC press release.
