Parents are outraged that an after-school study and mentoring program credited with dramatically improving students? grades could get cut from next year?s budget.
Teachers supervise two-hour sessions at the Community Learning Centers at schools throughout the county, and older students volunteer to teach younger students, who otherwise would be going to an empty home because their parents work.
The students who frequent the centers often may be struggling with their grades or don?t easily make friends, parents say.
“This program is not just a nice service; it?s absolutely critical,” said Westminster resident Judy McPherson, whose godson goes to the center at East Middle School.
“It?s focused him on homework. His grades in elementary school were not the worst, but we struggled at home with homework. It has made a big difference.”
The centers have helped turn reclusive children into outgoing youngsters and changed struggling students into academic overachievers, supporters say.
But the centers in the Northwest area of the county are scheduled to get cut next year, according to the school system?s proposed budget, because a state grant funding the centers there runs out this year.
It would cost the school system $700,000 to continue the programs that are running if the state does not award another grant, Superintendent Charles Ecker said.
Centers in the Westminster area have one year left on their state grant, Ecker said, before the county could face similar budget decisions.
The Board of Education will have to make tough decisions about what to fund and what to cut after commissioners approve a county budget, he said.
“We know we?re going to have to make cuts to the budget, and what areas will take priority over another area, we don?t know at this point,” Ecker said.
“There?s a possibility they?ll stay and there?s a possibility they?ll get cut.”
Commissioners are expected to approve a budget by the end of May, and the school board will have a few days after that to decide what to fund, Ecker said.
