After-school program facing budget cuts

The Hot Springs County School District's Lights On After-school program has received budget cuts from their federal grant through the 21st Century Community Learning Center. The grant is a five-year grant that must be reapplied for every year. In years four and five of the current grant, there will be significant budget cuts. Year four will receive a 10 percent cut - approximately $14,000 - that will take effect in May 2016. Year five will receive a 15 percent cut - approximately $22,000 - that will take effect in May 2017.

"The whole point of this grant is to help programs start-up some quality, after-school enrichment programs and learn how to be self-sustainable," program coordinator Jenny Davis said. "In rural communities, it's more difficult to do this."

Davis said the organization has applied for several grants to help fill the gap of the budget cuts for year four. The program was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Wyoming Community Foundation and the Hot Springs Endowment Fund gave a grant to help pay for snacks for the program.

Next year will be more worrisome because the program will not have the additional funds from the grants, Davis said.

"The goal is to start raising funds now to help plan for next year," she said. "What we really need is a group of parents to form a task force to help advocate for funds. We need to do reoccurring events that will bring in money every year."

Davis explained that because the 21CCLC grant is a federal grant, the program's staff cannot solicit outside funds themselves, which is why fundraising efforts by a parent task force is crucial.

"Without help and support from the community, we will have to cut some programming," she said. "We are raising our future and we do not want to have to make those cuts."

The belief of the program is that all students can be successful, Davis said.

"We keep kids after-school," she said. "We support working families. Not only are we keeping kids safe, we are providing them with quality, enrichment programs that will support them throughout life."

Davis said any and all donations will be accepted by the Lights On After-school program, but parents are strongly urged to get involved.

There will be a Lights On Advisory meeting from noon-1 p.m. Thursday, May 12 in the vocational building in the Lights On room. Lunch will be provided.

"We will discuss Lights On programming, 21CCLC goals, partnerships, funding and future plans," Davis said.

Davis said there will also be a fundraiser meeting from 5:15-6 p.m. Thursday, May 12 in the vocational building.

"We will extend programming for students until 6 p.m. so parents can attend," she said. "We will be organizing a parent task force and fundraising ideas to support the continuation of 21CCLC programs."