Pubdate: Sat, 29 May 2004
Source: Bureau County Republican (IL)
Copyright: 2004 Bureau County Republican
Contact:  http://www.bcrnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3345
Author: Donna Barker

PES WILL NOT OFFER AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

PRINCETON -- The Princeton Elementary School Board will not start an 
after-school program at this time.

At Monday night's board meeting, the PES Board agreed to follow a 
recommendation by Superintendent James Whitmore to take no action on 
implementing an after-school program in the district. The board had 
considered starting the after-school program next fall.

At the May 3 PES Board meeting, Sherry Hockings, representing the 
University of Illinois Extension office, presented preliminary findings of 
a survey taken of PES parents on their interest in starting an after-school 
program. According to Hockings, 190 parents answered the survey, and 87 of 
those parents expressing a need for an after-school program. Hockings 
estimated the after-school program could be handled for $4-$5 per student 
per day.

Arin Peterson, director of the Bureau County Day Care Center, had opposed 
PES starting an after-school program, saying it would be a financial 
hardship on the center to have the competing district program.

Whitmore said Monday there does appear to be a need for the after-school 
program, but there also appears to be a negative financial impact on the 
day care center.

PES Board member Janet Turpen said if the after-school program is needed, 
the board should continue looking at ways to meet that need. Turpen made a 
motion to proceed with the after-school program. The motion died for lack 
of a second.

The future of the Drug Awareness and Resistance Education anti-substance 
abuse program has also been put on hold for Princeton Elementary School. 
The Princeton City Council had asked the PES District to share in the costs 
of the DARE program.

At Monday's meeting, Whitmore said the DARE program would cost PES, Malden 
Grade, St. Louis Catholic School and Princeton Christian Academy a total of 
$8,781 for the second half of the 2004-05 school year. The city has 
budgeted money to pay for the first half of the school year.

Whitmore said he believes the district could commit some money for next 
year's DARE program, but the problem arises for the 2005-06 school year, 
which would cost the elementary districts $27,436. Whitmore did not have a 
recommendation for the 2005-06 program.

The PES Board agreed to put the DARE program on the agenda for its upcoming 
committee-as-a-whole meeting.

Whitmore also gave an update on the school resource officer program, which 
operates primarily at Princeton High School and Logan Junior High School. 
The money for the program was provided by a three-year federal grant, which 
just ended.

The city of Princeton has made the commitment to continue to the resource 
officer program but has requested help paying for the program's $50,000 
budget, which is primarily the officer's salary.

Whitmore said the PES district could possibly help with $20,000 of the 
cost. The district could not commit itself beyond next year, Whitmore said.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D