After-school programs could be cut at four Sacramento schools
The city of Sacramento is considering closing 4th “R” after-school programs at four Sacramento City Unified School district campuses and severing its ties to another after-school program at 18 schools.
A City Council discussion on the proposal had been scheduled for this evening, but has been postponed until April 28. Eric Guerra, who last week won a City Council seat representing one of the affected 4th “R” campuses, is scheduled to be sworn in that evening. City Manager John Shirey and council members said they wanted to allow Guerra to take part in the debate.
Under what the city said is a cost-saving plan, the 4th “R” programs would get slashed at Golden Empire Elementary in Rosemont, Caroline Wenzel Elementary School in Greenhaven, Hubert H. Bancroft Elementary in College Greens and O.W. Erlewine Elementary in Larchmont Riviera. Golden Empire, Bancroft and Erlewine are within one mile of one another.
According to a city of Sacramento staff report, the 4th “R” program is facing a budget deficit of $458,000 for the fiscal year that begins July 1. That gap is the result of increasing employee costs; many employees at 4th “R” sites recently joined a labor union, and the city now must pay those workers increased benefits, according to Alan Tomiyama, the city’s recreation manager.
Enrollment in the 4th “R” programs has steadily declined at the four campuses slated to be closed as more parents enroll their children in free after-school programs. There are 187 children combined in 4th “R” at the four schools, Tomiyama said.
Golden Empire, Bancroft and Erlewine all have free START after-school programs operated by the city. Wenzel has a free program offered by an outside vendor.
The START program is also hurting the city’s bottom line. Employee salaries and benefits are rising, and the program will carry a $1 million deficit in the upcoming fiscal year “without significant cost saving measures,” according to the city report. As a result, the city plans to cut its ties with START at 18 schools.
The START program began in 1996, fostered by then-City Councilman Darrell Steinberg. Within three years it grew to 42 schools serving 7,000 students, offering homework help, recreation and literacy education.
Steinberg, who served as state Senate President Pro Tem until last fall, said Tuesday that the after-school brand remained in Sacramento but became an inspiration for other after-school programs across the state.
“When I started it, it got a lot of attention in the capital city, and the Legislature picked it up, and (U.S.) Senator (Barbara) Boxer picked it up,” Steinberg said. “It was a significant catalyst to the statewide programs.”
Steinberg said he knew about the START deficit and hopes that a replacement is found.
“I love the brand,” he said. “It has done a lot of good over the years. But that’s less important to me than making sure the same number or more children get comprehensive after-school experience.”
The Sacramento City Unified School District does have plans to look for other vendors to continue the after-school program at the 18 schools. District Superintendent Jose Banda told parents in a letter last week that funding is available for START through state and federal grants, and the after-school programs will not be eliminated.
“I’m talking with (Banda) about the need to keep these sites open based on the letters I’ve received and the need I know these communities have,” said Councilman Rick Jennings.
The fate of 4th “R” is less clear.
Banda wrote parents last week that the district is working with the city to find a solution to the proposed elimination of 4th R at the four schools. Jennings, who represents Greenhaven, said the city is exploring whether the district or an outside vendor can assume responsibility for the programs.
A parent, Felise Dooley, pulled her car to the front of Wenzel Elementary Tuesday morning and said she hoped to learn about after-school options for a child who attends a charter campus nearby. Her third-grade son used to attend Wenzel and its 4th “R” program, she said. But the cost was between $400 and $500 a month. Now she hopes to enroll him in the free California After School Education & Safety Program operated at the campus – one of the multiple vendors that also provide a free after-school program.
“It keeps him busy, keeps his brain stimulated for summer and even after