Stonington — West Vine Street School has received a $242,424 grant for a before- and after-school care program, according to Superintendent Mary Anne Butler.

The program, anticipated to begin in the early spring, will serve up to 40 West Vine Street School students in the morning, and up to 50 students after school ― between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The program is free of charge for the remainder of this school year and next school year.

“With the grant funding, we don’t really have a choice but to keep it limited because we aren’t charging,” said Finance Director Alicia Stripling on Tuesday.

The grant, funded through an American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Innovation Award, was one of 23 awards throughout the state, ranging between $118,980 and $243,000, intended to expand access to after school programming and services.

Initially expected in October, the delayed awards were announced in late December. Many details of the program are not finalized and have not been announced, including how the application process will be implemented.

The morning program will begin at 7 a.m. and end when school begins at 8:30, and breakfast will be provided to students.

“The goal is to make sure, are they ready to start their school day, are their bellies full, do they need anybody to help them look at their homework from the night before, and just that relationship building between the people who work in the program and the students,” Stripling said.

Students will be dismissed directly from class to the after school program and will participate in a variety of activities, including art and dramatic play in groups of similar aged children.

In the process of writing the grant application, Stripling said the district spoke with a number of local organizations, including Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Seaport, Stonington Community Center, and the YMCA, about the potential for bringing programming to the students as well as the occasional field trip.

Stripling said the district is also working with the state to get free afternoon snacks provided for the students.

Stripling said the district would hire a full-time director to handle planning, paperwork and grant reporting requirements, as well as part-time staff.

The director position should be posted within the next week, and the other positions will be posted in the following two weeks, she said.

Stripling said the district will pursue additional grant funding to extend the program after the initial funding runs out.