South Point resident Joy Winkler's 6year-old daughter Abagail is learning how to cook - and loves it.

During the next school year, Abagail may not have the chance to stay after school and cook again.

For the past four years, students such as Winkler have had the chance to stay after school for extra academic and extracurricular activities thanks to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a federal grant program commonly referred to as After School Malls.

Students at 15 Lawrence County schools needing extra help in class or on proficiency testing are able to get it and have fun in the process. While the program was extended for a year beyond its intended expiration date, it will end at the conclusion of this school year. Chances of renewal are slim.

The 15 Lawrence County schools are part of the Ohio South Consortium, a group of 26 schools in Lawrence, Scioto and Pike counties. The estimated total funding for the consortium is $5,199,168, according to the program's Web site.

Children involved in the South Point Elementary After School Mall once took a trip to the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. Many of these students had never seen the state capitol, said Bill Christian, site coordinator for the school program.

"Their eyes really opened up," he said. "They were really shocked when we arrived in Columbus and saw all of the tall buildings."

After School Mall time at South Point Elementary lasts from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with the majority of the time devoted to academic activities such as preparing the students for proficiency or achievement testing, Christian said. During the final 45 minutes of the mall time, the students take part in "enrichment activities" a variety of extracurricular activities that include sports or piano and guitar lessons. Besides the trip to Columbus, the students have taken a trip to Williamsburg, Va., the 4-H camp in Jackson and will soon take one to the Columbus Zoo, where they will spend the night in the zoo.

"These kids may have read about a tiger, but they've never seen one," he said.

The program's money not only funds these activities, but pays the teachers who stay after school, high school students who work with the children, snacks and bus transportation home. Many of the children staying after school, Christian said, come from families who may not be able afford activities such as guitar lessons.

Having the grant for another year, he said, is the result of wise spending.

"Every district in Lawrence County used their money wisely, and we were able to save for a fourth year," Christian said.

The federal program came into effect when the Clinton Administration was in power, and the Bush Administration has delegated the funding power to individual states, Christian said. The Ohio South Consortium has applied for these state grants but have been unsuccessful. The After School Mall funding, Christian said, is mostly going to Columbus area schools at a time when he believes southern Ohio badly needs funding.

The intervention provided at After School Mall programs may be the key in helping local school districts meet the No Child Left Behind Act.

"They've thrown No Child Left Behind at us, and now they've taken the money away," Christian said.

The After School Mall has been a help for working parents as well, Christian said. Those parents have been able to drop the children off for school a little early for a "morning mall" in case their workdays begin before school does. Without the program, some parents may have to pay for child care, worry about their older children being home alone or finding a friend or relative to babysit.

"It'll be harder on parents who work to find care after school," Joy Winkler said. "It's expensive. It costs $15 to $20 a day per child sometimes. That adds up."

According to Ironton Superintendent Dean Nance, the goal of the After School Mall programs was to enable school buildings to be used around the clock. As the program would progress, the hope was that communities and businesses would become more involved and continue the programs once the federal money was exhausted. However, most areas of southern Ohio do not have enough individuals or businesses to support such a program.

"It absolutely did not happen anywhere I know," Nance said.

The Ironton district's sites are at the middle and high schools. However, getting the new grants administered at the state level could end up hurting the district because of several strings attached.

If the district were to get the grant, it would last for three years, Nance said. Each year, the funding would be gradually reduced, but the district would not be allowed to reduce the services provided.