Boys & Girls Club of Ozark partners with Ozark City Schools for new teen center

OZARK, Ala. (WTVY) - The Boys & Girls Club of Ozark is working with Ozark City Schools to turn the school system’s old central office building into a teen center.

Pretty soon, that vacant building will have a new purpose serving the city’s teenagers.

News4 spoke with the club’s executive director Jessica Moore, who says this center has been a long time coming.

The center will give teens who don’t play sports or do other school-related activities an outlet outside of school.

It will be open after school and throughout the summer, just like the Boys & Girls Club.

Moore and Ozark City Schools Superintendent Reeivice Girtman, a Boys & Girls Club kid himself, both see the value in a center catered to teenagers.

“We are going to offer all the great things we already offer but center it toward our teenagers. Our biggest thing is workforce development. We really want to target those kids who may not be going to four-year schools and we can start teaching those trades and work with Ozark City Schools to help get them acclimated before they graduate high school. We are also going to be working with those kids who plan to attend four-year universities with financial aid and career options,” Moore said.

Students will also get to explore music and other avenues thanks to a full music and podcast studio.

The renovation process is set to start soon.

Bridgestone Tires donated funds to the club to equip the center with technology.

Moore said they need financial and volunteer help with the renovation process.

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