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May 7, 2004
School board concerned with SAFE cost
By BREANNE HUBBARD Plans to establish a new SAFE program, which gives students a place to go after school, is already under way, but the cost is a heavy weight on the shoulders of the Nye County School District and parents who need to find a new place for their children to spend workday afternoons. Assistant Superintendent Kay Walker stood in front of the Nye County School District board of trustees with the newest numbers. Originally, Walker had presented information about the alternative SAFE program. She had crunched numbers for the cost of 50 children attending three days a week at two hours a day. Board members asked Walker to run numbers for two other scenarios. The first plan calls for 50 students at five days a week at two hours a day, the second dealt with five days a week at three hours a day, which would be a before and after school program. The costs for five days a week started at $712 per student for just after school and $876 per student for both morning and after school. The cost broken down per day is as little as $4 -$5. Walker said that those findings were based on the assumption that students would attend both morning and afternoon sessions. Also, another assumption is that there are additional benefits that coordinators will take. Board member Nancy Sollinger wanted to know if that was the cost regardless of the site. Walker told her the cost wouldn't vary. The numbers, according to Walker, were intended for the board to get an idea of what type of cost the district is looking at. The site would need one coordinator and at least two paraprofessionals, totaling roughly $25,332 for 180 days. Board member Dawn Murphy asked if grant monies would lower the cost that a parent would have to put out for the program. Walker said that any type of financial help would aid the parents and lower prices. With figures in hand, the next step was to figure out how and when the parents would pay for the program. Board member Dennis Keating was curious to know if the program would be paid for up front, monthly or weekly. Keating thought paying for the program in advance would ensure the staff's salaries. Walker agreed with Keating that the program should be paid in full before students attend. A survey for parents to complete would also help the board figure out if the prices are too high and if parents can actually afford it. Keating suggested the parents currently in SAFE should take the survey. Walker agreed, saying it would be "very helpful." The survey would also cut the chances of a failed program. "I want to make sure we hit all those points so we can get it right the first time," Superintendent Dr. Rob Roberts said. Mt. Charleston Elementary School principal Tim Wombaker didn't see a problem with the cost broken down in a day. "When you look at $5 a day, that's cheap," he said. The concern of the board is that although the cost per day is inexpensive, a lump sum in advance could be detrimental to parents. For those that can't afford the fees, board member Melanie Reiner asked if there could be two programs, a grant funded program and a regular program. Parents would have to qualify financially to send their children to the grant-based program. There are four grants that the program is concentrating on to help lower the costs. If the district gets enough money, the program would be free. Walker said that because staff salaries are yearly, the program would need to be paid before hand. "That's the rub right there," assistant superintendent Rod Pekarak said. The board is looking at monthly payments, which would make it more convenient to parents. |
