Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
After‑school program asks town for $50,000 as grants and in‑kind support shrink
Summary
The Schools Out after‑school program asked Ossipee voters for $50,000 to offset lost grants and in‑kind school support. Program leaders said 252 children used the program last year; supporters cited child‑care benefits while some residents argued the request belongs in the school budget.
Amy Lucier, speaking for the Schools Out after‑school program, asked the town for a $50,000 appropriation to sustain staffing, transportation and a sliding‑scale fee system after reductions in federal grant funding and in‑kind school support. Lucier said last year 252 children participated and the program provided thousands of snacks and dozens of enrichment clubs; she described partnerships with local groups and an effort to keep fees low: “Town funding is what keeps the program affordable for families... most families pay approximately $1.75 per day,” she said.
Critics argued the program should be budgeted through the school district rather than a petition to the town meeting, and questioned duplicative funding sources. Supporters responded that the program helps working families, keeps students engaged after school and partners with local recreation and library programs.
The petition was presented, discussed and voted on during the meeting.
