Belinda Burrell of Farrell said her 9-year-old son Byron Lane has a slight learning disability and struggles in the classroom.

She said she was "very excited" when Byron, a third grader, was chosen to participate in an after school technology tutoring program offered at Southwest Gardens Economic Development, Corp., Farrell.

Now he attends one-hour tutoring sessions twice a week and gets the one-on-one attention he needs, Ms. Burrell said. In the process he has also become more computer literate.

"He struggles in the classroom and can go at his own pace here. It's good learning support for him," Mrs. Burrell said. "Working on the computers is a great opportunity for him."

Thanks to a grant that Southwest Gardens received from the Weed and Seed Focusing on Our Families/Our Children program, Byron and other children in the valley have the opportunity to learn, develop and grow using computers.

The grant allowed Southwest Gardens to jump start a new Computer Technology Center, which consists of two computer labs and eight computers.

Southwest Gardens celebrated the center Saturday with a grand opening and tour, which included words of wisdom and well-wishes from those involved in the launch.

Lester Robinson, Farrell School Board president, said while the school district worries about student test scores, he's glad to see that the community took the initiative to do something about them.

"This program here will make sure no kids in our area are left behind," he said.

Educating those unfamiliar with technology and expanding youth education is the purpose of the center. It will also serve as a resource for educational alternatives and supplements, as well as technology and training. The computer programs concentrate on various school subjects geared toward individual grade levels and ethnic backgrounds.

M. Jo'ann Ford-Holden, computer technology center coordinator, said the programs will also give students life and job skills.

"We need to give a hand up and not a hand out," she said. "Together we can make a difference."

Bonita Jackson-Smith, a computer consultant from BJS Consulting, Rochester, N.Y., said the programs aren't a substitute for teachers and the classroom, but they can help fill the learning gaps.

For now, students from Farrell and Musser Elementary will spend two hours a week on computers working on specific skills needed for academic success.

Services will expand to include grades 7 to 12. Adult classes will also soon be available, offering life and job skills training, GED courses, SAT preparation and various software and basic computing courses.

In its pilot phase, the program is being offered to students with support from teachers and administrators from Farrell and Sharon schools, Mrs. Jackson-Smith and former Brookfield resident Darrick Hatwood of Seventhson Technology, Rochester.

Registration forms can be picked up at Southwest Gardens.

Those interested in volunteering should call (724) 981-8283 or (724) 981-4399.