Caledonia Argus

Budget cuts threaten After School Program

Posted: 5/6/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

Funding cuts have threatened the existence of the After School Program at Caledonia Elementary, but Principal Connie Hesse is fighting tooth and nail to keep the program running.

Serving upwards of 120 students in grades 1-5, the After School Program (ASP) operates on about $30,000 a year. Roughly one fourth has been provided through a state grant from the Houston County Collaborative, and three quarters of the funding comes from state targeted services dollars.

The Collaborative grant was eliminated March 11 by Governor Tim Pawlenty, and the targeted services dollars will be entirely cut as of July 1. Already Hesse, who along with Becky Newgaard directs the program, is seeking alternative sources of funding.

Possible options for maintaining the program, Hesse said, include cutting it to two days a week instead of three, reducing the number of staffñ at present there are 10 teachers, eight assistants, and one volunteer facilitating the programñ and offering fewer activities. Also being considered is making the program fee-basedñ students currently enrolled attend for freeñ as well as eliminating transportation.

Yet two strategies surfaced recently that seem to hold the key to ASPís future. District Superintendent Jim Tool notified Hesse that money already derived from the Safe Schools Levy, which currently amounts to $17,000 annually, could be used to supplement ASP. District officials have already planned to use these dollars to maintain the program until the end of the school year.

The other plan is to enlist PACE, the schoolís parents group, to hold a fundraiser next fall. PACE has been effective in raising funds for the school. Last year, $24,000 was raised to mitigate the cost of new playground equipment. On May 1 the group voted unanimously to hold a two-week fundraiser next fall, proceeds from which will benefit ASP.

Hesse is optimistic that the fundraiser will potentially provide between $10-$15,000 for the program. This, combined with the Safe School Levy dollars, appears to be the funding necessary to keep ASP afloat, though other reductions are still being entertained.

Our ultimate goal is to still offer it, but as a condensed program, Hesse said. ìWeíre all very passionate about it, and there are so many families in our community who just rely on it to meet the needs of their kids, and it will just be a shocker for it to be non-existent. We have a lot of people working really hard to try and maintain the program.î

Hesseís rationale for wanting to preserve ASP is pragmatic in nature. Since its inception three years ago, guidance counselors at the school have pointed out a sharp decline in disciplinary and attendance problems among students involved in ASP. The counselors also indicated that, should the program be eliminated entirely, the school could expect those same problems to rise.

Hesse also has taken stock of the ways in which ASP offers opportunities for peer socialization and homework tutorials outside the standard classroom setting, which will benefit students throughout their academic careers.

ìIt creates a positive environment,î she said. ìKids feel great about themselves, they love going, theyíre being successful. So much of their day is in a structured environment. With the After School Program, youíre meeting their academic needs, but itís not in as structured an environment.î

The perqs of ASP are clear, and provided funding can be mustered for coming years, the program will carry on. With Hesse and district officials on the case, the future of ASP, and the students involved, looks bright.

Top of Page