The DeKalb School Board District 428 approved a proposal Tuesday night of a partnership with the local Kishwaukee YMCA and a DeKalb elementary school.

The partnership with Littlejohn Elementary School, 1121 School St., is a two hour after-school program that includes both education and physical activity, said Superintendent Jim Briscoe.

“One hour would be education, including tutoring or literary comprehension,” Briscoe said. “The second hour would be physical activity with the YMCA.”

Briscoe, who first brought the partnership proposal to the board last month, said Sycamore schools are currently involved in a similar partnership with the YMCA, and he decided to get DeKalb students involved.

“It would help those parents working until 6 p.m.,” Briscoe said. “They can leave their kids at the school instead of them going home alone.”

Littlejohn Elementary Principle Charlotte Messmore said she thinks the partnership is a great idea.

“It’s a good thing anytime you can provide additional programs to help students academically and physically,” Messmore said.

Sycamore Assistant Superintendent Kathy Countryman said Sycamore schools have had a partnership with the YMCA for several years, but this is the first year where YMCA staff have come to the schools.

Countryman also said all of the feedback from the partnership has been positive.

The YMCA staff activities include swim lessons, karate lessons and sports and fitness classes, said Rob Wilkinson, executive director of the Kishwaukee YMCA.

“We have two goals,” Wilkinson said. “One is providing healthy activity for kids, and two is a family perspective by making more time available for those families with working parents.”