K-8 Summer School Will Be Left Out of 2012-2013 Budget

will likely eliminate the K-8 Summer Program from its budget for the 2012-2013 school year, based on a discussion at this week's Board of Education meeting.

“This is something we’ve talked about for the past two years,” said Tom Moore, Assistant Superintendent for Administration. "It’s a question of whether we can continue to offer a program that has lost money, that evidence indicates will continue to lose money."

In his presentation to the Board, Moore pointed out that the program's deficit has continued to rise in recent years, as the program has also experienced decreasing enrollment.

In recent years, the K-8 Summer Program has operated three hours a day, five days a week, for one four-week session. In the early 1990s, the program was at its peak with 800 students enrolled in two back-to-back four-week sessions which also coordinated with programs at town parks and activities run by The Bridge Family Center.

In 2010, there were 252 students, and the program lost $64,000. Tuition costs are $500-$550 per student, and there was an additional $60 per student this year charged for bus transportation. Over the past four years, the Summer K-8 Program has accumulated a deficit of $277,231.

"The field that has developed over the past few years is different from when this program was designed over 20 years ago," reported David Downes, Director of Continuing and Summer Education.

There are many more camp programs now available, especially for those with disposable income, and those programs are staffed by lower-paid employees rather than certified teachers. The four-week commitment which must be made to the K-8 Summer Program is also a deterrent for many families.

“You really can’t get more volume. Your revenues are dictated by the marketplace, by what you are able to charge for it.” Chip Ward, Director of Finance and Planning for the West Hartford Public Schools. "We really can’t grow our price, we really can’t grow our volume, but continuing to run this program will require board contribution of $50,000 per year," Ward said.

Although Board of Education members voiced some concern about losing the K-8 Summer Program, especially the ability to offer a less restrictive program for some special needs students who are integrated into regular education summer classes, there was little support for maintaining the unprofitable program.

In response to Board member Ellen Brassil’s question about there perhaps being a different model, such as running the program for a full day, Moore said that it had been reviewed. “Extending the day to meet the need will increase the cost so much. We don’t anticipate that we could increase the usership enough,” Moore said.

Superintendent of Schools Karen List was looking for the Board's input before determining the future of the Summer K-8 Program. List said later that based on Tuesday night's discussion, "It will not be part of the proposed budget."

Board Chairman Bruce Putterman said he appreciated that List brought this situation to the Board’s attention, rather than waiting for the budget process.