12/15/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

school. At some schools the PTA has become involved and some programs are very creative. Commissioner Adams was concerned with government infringing on private industry and encouraged a study of the costs to have private day care centers contract for an after-school program on a county -wide basis. Commissioner Bird understood the concerns of the day care industry, but the Commission's main concern is the children. At the present time we have over 500 children taking advantage of this after-school program. If we discontinued it, he estimated only 75 of those children would find their way to a private day care center and the rest would be without a program. There is no perfect solution, but he is convinced that the overall program is good. Commissioner Tippin was not sure this is a Recreation Department issue but rather a School Board issue. Recreation Director Callahan explained that the program was started to address the needs of children in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades who would otherwise go home to an empty house, basically latch -key kids, and it has blossomed. The hope is to get all the schools involved at a break-even level, and then offer the program to the School Board to operate. Pat Donovan, Principal of Beachland Elementary School, described a program at her school which was funded by a Full Service Schools grant and was a pilot program to meet the needs of at -risk children and families at Beachland. Ms. Donovan explained that 7 weeks of that program at her school cost $5,000 and she presently has $7,000 to run the program for the balance of the school year. The program will cease in the middle of February unless Beachland can be included in the County's after-school program. Her plan is to use the Full Services Schools funds to enrich the after-school program, utilizing volunteers and other services in the community that may have to be sub -contracted. Ms. Donovan expressed her concern for all children in the community and pointed out that there are needy children and families who will be enriched by this program. Chairman Eggert asked, and Ms. Donovan responded that of the 386 students at Beachland, 92 are on free and reduced lunch; in the after-school program at Beachland, 75 percent of the students were on free and reduced lunch. Susan Earlywine, PTA Present at Vero Beach Elementary School, stated that there is a great need for the after-school program at that school. She reported that every time she is late in picking up her own children, there are several children sitting in the school office at 4:00 and 4:30, waiting to be picked up. Principal 25 DEC 15'1992 BOOK F��;F X91