Planning for future of Ipswich Tiger Post

The Ipswich Tiger Post is located in the former Masonic Temple/Legion Hall, which was built in 1922. The building has served the community well for many years, but there comes a time when buildings require more upkeep and repair than can be justified and simply need to be replaced.

The Tiger Post has reached that point and representatives from several organizations have formed a committee to meet and come up with plans, location, and ideas how to pay for a new building. Two members of the Ipswich City Council, Ipswich School Board, Ipswich Development Corporation and Ipswich Tiger Post Board make up the planning committee.

The first thing that was decided by the committee was the location. After some discussion and different recommendations, it was decided to build the new structure south of the ice-skating rink on a lot that is owned by the Ipswich Public School.

Next, several committee members met with the members of the Tiger Post Board and discussed the needs, sizes and layout of a new structure. The committee had preliminary plans drawn up along with cost estimates for the project.

The final and most important part of the whole project is how do they pay for this new structure. They knew that funds for the project would have to be raised. The committee invited Mike Herman, head of the Aberdeen Boys and Girls Club, to a meeting. Herman led the fundraising efforts for the new facility in Aberdeen. After that meeting it was decided that a capital fund drive would be necessary and a fund drive date was set. The committee will meet jointly with the Development Corporation and the Tiger Post Board on Jan. 16, 2019 to kick off the fund drive efforts.

Committee members include Deanne Hoyle (605-380-2650) and Erica Larson (605-845-6424) representing the Tiger Post Board, Carole Curtis (605-389-9219) and LeRoy Kilber (605-380-5440) representing the Development Corporation, Todd Hettich (605-380-1854) and Tadd Thorson (605-380-4566) representing the Ipswich School Board, Susie Treftz (605-252-0087) and Michael Hammrich (605-380-9848) representing the Ipswich City Council.

The committee and boards involved feel strongly about the importance and benefits of the Ipswich Tiger Post to the community. They hope the efforts, vision and importance for this project are also felt by people of the community. They plan to keep everyone up to date with articles in the Ipswich Tribune and welcome anyone to call a committee member with questions or concerns. Plans, projected costs and fundraising efforts will be coming.

ABOUT THE TIGER POST

The Ipswich Tiger Post Non-Profit 501-C-3 was founded in January of 1999. The school district was surveyed and found that 72% of the K-6 students were either home alone or with a friend or sibling from 3:30 until 6 p.m.

The purpose of the program was to provide out-of-school time and full-time summer care for students ages 5-12 in a safe, semi-structured environment. Children are supervised by highly-qualified staff and offered opportunities for learning, social interaction, creative expression, and discovery. The children are served nutritious meals and snacks. The goal is to link all facets of the community to improve the quality of life for local youth.

The program has been successful for the Ipswich community. Parents of Junior K students are able to drop their child or children off in the morning during school days and they are given breakfast and lunch and taken to school for the afternoon. After school, all the children are transported to the Tiger Post. They are given a snack, work on homework, and play until they are picked up.

The summer program is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. They participate in community activities, including softball, swimming and dance. They take field trips and have educational activities. The average attendance during the school year is 28 children and up to 42 during the summer months.