After starting in January with only five students, an after-school program still in its pilot phase is now at capacity, embarking on a full year of service.

A dozen students at Kentuck Elementary School don’t leave when the bell sounds at the end of the day. Instead, they transition to a program designed to fill a significant gap in child care needs throughout the Dan River Region.

Pittsylvania County Parks and Recreation operates the program, partnering with the school system for the space and snacks for children.

After about a year of planning, the midyear launch only drew a total of five students to get the program off and running . In the end, that may have been the best solution for the new endeavor.

“I think the five kids kinda were a blessing for us,” Justin Price, director of

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