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City considering pulling out of school programs

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BY KEVIN ABOUREZK / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 12:24:43 am CDT

The city of Lincoln is considering pulling out of a citywide educational effort that provides before- and after-school care and summer programs to thousands of students.

On Tuesday, Mayor Chris Beutler’s office sent a letter to Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Susan Gourley informing her of the city’s intention to re-examine its role in the district’s Community Learning Center initiative.

“As long as I am Mayor, the City of Lincoln will continue our collaboration with the CLC partners,” Beutler wrote. “However, the City’s continuing budget crisis has forced us to examine every facet of City spending.”

CLC lead agencies

Nine local entities serve as lead agencies for Lincoln’s Community Learning Center initiative. They are: Family Services, Cedars Youth Services, YMCA, Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln Housing Authority, Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters, Clyde Malone Center, Northeast Family Center and Lincoln Parks and Recreation.

This year, the city spent $178,000 on the nationally recognized initiative, which offers a host of educational services meant to improve student learning and strengthen families and neighborhoods.

Lincoln has 23 centers — 18 at elementary schools and five at middle schools. The schools partner with community groups that hire site supervisors for the program and provide other support.

Lynn Johnson of the city Parks and Recreation Department said the city employs four on-site supervisors at six centers and provides other services at those sites.

LPS spends about $843,000 on centers and employs 15 on-site supervisors, said Cathie Petsch, coordinator of the CLC initiative.

She said it would be difficult for LPS to find new partners able to replace the city’s contributions.

“It really is a community initiative and from my perspective it is important the city remain involved in this,” she said.

The sites served more than 2,000 children in the 2003-04 school year.

In the letter to Gourley, Beutler listed several reasons for the city’s decision to reconsider its role.

Chief among them: the city’s ballooning deficit from stagnant sales tax increases and increasing personnel costs. He said the city is facing a $6 million budget gap for its 2008-2009 budget and has few options because of cuts it made to its 2007-2008 budget.

The city is looking for ways to shift to the nonprofit sector the human services the city provides, Beutler said.

The city believes nonprofits are able to provide human services cheaper than the city. Nonprofits don’t have to abide by state laws requiring municipalities to pay salaries comparable to those of similar municipalities.

Beutler’s office also sent the letter to Journal Star publisher and chairman of the CLC Executive Board John Maher, Johnson and Petsch.

City representatives plan to meet with the CLC Executive Board Thursday to discuss proposals the city is considering that, according to the letter, include:

* The city would provide funding to the centers but not directly provide services or employees as a lead agency for the initiative.

* The city would attempt to find transitional funding while new partnerships could be created to fill the void left by the city.

* Should the city’s financial situation improve, it would consider providing additional funding.

“We are hopeful that a new structure can be developed that allows the City to remain as a financial partner, sustains the CLC programs currently in place, and maintains the quality of the CLC sites,” Beutler wrote.

Reach Kevin Abourezk at 473-7225 or kabourezk@journalstar.com.


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TC wrote on May 14, 2008 6:19 am:
" Why does it seem when budgets get crunched, it is the proactive, positive budget items that get cut first? Our society is in a major crunch right now, yet it is the education components that are on the chopping block. This makes no sense to me. "

 Disappointed in Lincoln wrote on May 14, 2008 6:27 am:
" What a travesty that Government in Nebraska feels the easiest way to solve a budget crisis is to cut funding to schools. First the only cut the state makes in its recent legislative session is to school funding, second he City of Lincoln wants to cut funding to the CLC's that it sponsors.....the CLC's are an integral part to the education process in the Title 1 schools. You are cutting funding to a population that needs it the most. The kids enrolled in CLC's (at least in my school) are primarily from low income families and the CLC supports the learing process in ways that give these kids a greater opportunity to succeed. Are the lives of children less important than the mowing of grass in some of the city parks? "

 john q wrote on May 14, 2008 6:36 am:
" how may children did it serve in 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007 or did 2003-2004 have the highest number of children, so they used that to justify the million dollar cost. LPS received more money from the State than they expected, why don't they use that? LPS will just ask for more taxes and hire more administrator to ake care of it. "

 CS wrote on May 14, 2008 7:08 am:
" Because people complain about those initiatives first. The arts, charity, assistance for the less fortunate-always first because "it doesn't affect ME....". "

 Shadow wrote on May 14, 2008 7:20 am:
" If the city doesnt feel they need to support these programs, then i dont see the need to continue to pay as much in property taxes since the majority of those taxes are applied to the school budget. it is the one thing we are taxed the most for and the first thing he wants to axe. how about trimming some fat from the steak instead of the good parts. "

 Good job Mayor wrote on May 14, 2008 7:32 am:
" In years past while LPS budgets have increased close to 6 percent per year the city of Lincoln has increased next to nothing. It's time the "cash cow" LPS took part of the responsibility in difficult economic times. I'm sure LPS will just tack on another percentage point on your property taxes to pay for this. And people won't complain - "do it for the kids." The city, on the other hand, has to be responsible for every single penny.

Good job Mayor Beutler. "

 russell wrote on May 14, 2008 7:53 am:
" Is this another example of housing growth not paying for itself? "

 New to Lincoln wrote on May 14, 2008 7:55 am:
" You have your choice city services or LPS there is not enough money for both. I say have LPS make major cuts to thier budget, there is alot of fat to cut in the admin dept. "

 CLC Parent wrote on May 14, 2008 8:12 am:
" I have had my daughter in before and after school care since she started. I don't know what I would have done with it. Most parents work days do not end at 3:00 or begin at 7:00. This is very high on the list of things that are needed. Thank you Major for fighting for this. Please keep it up and don't let CLC be another thing the city wants to push aside so we can have a pretty park downtown. "

 isotope wrote on May 14, 2008 8:18 am:
" Great. We have a nationally recognized program that provides great benefit to our community, something that Lincoln is doing right, and we're going to cripple it?

I have first hand experience with our CLC program. It's wonderful! A much needed program that keeps our kids out of trouble and provides educational opportunities. But rather than investing in our youth, our mayor would let them slide and catch them later with our police force. Rather than being proactive, he'd rather be reactive. What short-sightedness. "

 Dano wrote on May 14, 2008 8:22 am:
" The mayor pulls this, he and the board can consider their current terms their last ones. This would be a big mistake for the children of this city and their families. It will go over far worse than the bait and switch schoool closing bond issue. You talk about the budget crunch, but yet you can find money all over the place for special consultants, special projects, and studies without a problem.

This mayor is almost worse than G-ma mayor Seng. Sorry but, why don't you start looking at how mouch money is wasted by people just sitting in their offices, spacing out or watching the clock, or standing on the roadside watching one guy work, while three guys supervise.

Try making the departments accountable for their waste for a change and leave the good programs, that make greater contributions to society alone. Every year my work expects me to more prodcutive with the same amount of time, there is no reason the same shouldn't be expected of our government. "

 Parent wrote on May 14, 2008 8:28 am:
" For my family this is really unfair decision for the city to be making. I am not sure if the Mayor knows this or not but at our school there is not a nonprofit facility that transports students from their facility to our school. Family Service is all I have. My husband travels and isn't home much. My job isn't flexible so I am unable to work 9 to 3 so I could take my kids to school and pick them up. I need the help of before and after school programs as my children are not old enough to stay home alone. There isn't a nonprofit facility close to our school to help me. So what are we suppose to do when the Mayor decides to pull these programs? "

 great program for kids...save clc wrote on May 14, 2008 8:30 am:
" this is a fabulous program, it serves children right @ there school. (think of transportation cost saved)! It city wide, not just certain pockets or communities. all ages, why kill a program that is working and has positive results. Children need activites, or is it easier to build jails and to compain about our lazy youth. Invest in our youth, and save clc, children need something positive to do! "

 me wrote on May 14, 2008 8:32 am:
" They should pull out. It is not the city's responsibility to "babysit". LPS has an enormous budget that is consistently abused. The city is trying to come up with a budget, LPS should too! "

 ADS wrote on May 14, 2008 8:57 am:
" I am a single mom who uses the CLC in order to maintain employment and have safe care for my child so that I do not have to ask for assistance from the state. I pay for the care and my child loves the interaction that he gets, both from his peers and the wonderfull staff that are there. If CLC Funding gets cut it will hurt parents like me who strggle to work and maintain a good life for their children and want to not depend on public assistance. If the CLC's should close I don't know how I would be able to work and still find safe, affordable care for my child. It's great to know people who try to work and do good can not depend on our government to provide a little support to those who need it the most. "

 Mo Money wrote on May 14, 2008 9:06 am:
" LPS has a 278 million dollar budget. #278,000,000.00 They blow way more than enough money, yet the kids get less literate all the time. "

 Eric wrote on May 14, 2008 9:15 am:
" I am sick and tired of LPS draining the taxing payers of this city dry. "

 pay now or pay later wrote on May 14, 2008 9:17 am:
" Now we are paying to build a bigger jail. If I understand this program it gives kids supervision and gets them involved in constructive activities. So if we take funding away from this program we can plan to build more jails in the future.
If this article is accurate we will be paying less for those supervising the kids and the programs, so we’ll just end up paying for baby sitters for this program and more jails and gaurds in the future.
"

 JB wrote on May 14, 2008 9:22 am:
" Better to spend it here, then later in more jails. "

 Gregg wrote on May 14, 2008 9:33 am:
" Has the steep increase in crime, especially among late teens and recent highschool graduates, not shown our leaders that kids here need something to do with their time?!
Why is education, the foundation of society, always the first thing on the chopping block in a budget crisis? "

 Brown vs. THE BOARD wrote on May 14, 2008 9:34 am:
" It is time for us to reconsider the government funding of public schools. Public schools should be dissolved and legislation should be put into place forcing parents to make arrangements for their children's education either through private schools, home-schooling or through an internet source. Parents then should be held accountable for their kids progress by demanding testing with the threat of jail time for those who don't sufficiently educate their kids.

It was different in the past when illiteracy was extremely high and access to books, sources of information and educational experiences were limited. In this technologically advanced information age, everything kids need to learn can easily be accessed through the internet. Education companies could easily set up online classrooms where kids could learn from home.

With the money saved from not putting it into an antiquated educational system, we could pay for improved infrastructure, decrease poverty and focus on important issues. "

 dee wrote on May 14, 2008 9:56 am:
" I dont see them cutting all the services to the voting elderly, just the children who do not vote. "

 Lydia wrote on May 14, 2008 9:56 am:
" I have 2 children that attend the before and after school program. I'm a single mother, low income, work full time. Luckily next year my daughter will be in middle school next to my house, but what about my 7 year old? He loves going there and interacting with class mates and the projects and learning he receives there. Should he walk the mile home by himself? Hopefully something will be done to stop the programs from closing, if that is going to happen. So many cuts in all the wrong areas. "

 ar wrote on May 14, 2008 9:58 am:
" i think they need to take the money for this important programs out of susan gouleys salary!! "

 L.Parks wrote on May 14, 2008 10:21 am:
" Unbelievable...what are working families to do. CLC is not just a convenience but it provides an educational and social experience for the kids. Clubs like sign language, spanish, dance and drama enriches our youth. You would think that this would fall right in with the Mayor's new initiative. Our youth is our future. "

 cwh wrote on May 14, 2008 10:37 am:
" This makes me nervous. These are successful programs that help many people. "

 Take on the big issues wrote on May 14, 2008 10:41 am:
" It's ironic that the City removes funding from positive programs which will reduce future City expenditures (jail, detox, police) by supporting children and families now - while subsidizing the huge expense of sending multiple emergency vehicles to every single call for help. Let's get smart and take a look at making our emergency vehicle system work more cost effectively for the good of all. That's where the largest share of the City budget is going. Let's look at the elephant in the room before swatting at flies. "

 Greg wrote on May 14, 2008 11:24 am:
" This is just the beginning of the cuts that Mayor Beutler will make to get ready to fund Vision 2015. He has thrown in with the corporate elite to promote 2015 because he sees that as his stepping stone to becoming Governor. Forget about children and education while he is Mayor. "

 Citizen wrote on May 14, 2008 11:27 am:
" There is plenty of waste at LPS. We need to clean house and start at the top. "

 Pennywise wrote on May 14, 2008 12:11 pm:
" Although LPS is the fiscal agent for CLC's, it is simply a partner for the CLC's offering school buildings and some staffing as well as accounting services. The City of Lincoln has also been a partner, paying only a small part of the total cost through staff positions dedicated to the CLC's work. Now the City wants to pull out of the partnership. This decision lacks foresight. Supporting positive, productive after school activities for children and youth will likely save the City millions of dollars in jail, police, substance abuse treatment costs in the future. The city is being penny wise and pound foolish.

They need to take a look at the waste that goes into the provision of emergency services currently - sending multiple vehicles (fire trucks, ambulances and police vehicles) to every emergency call regardless of the problem. Let's use sense and put more cost effective practices into place within the group that's consuming half of the City's budget. "

 why wrote on May 14, 2008 12:38 pm:
" so why dont some of the big corporations here in town step up and help fund these after school activities. maybe another BIG GIVE effort should happen. we are already feeding these kids on the weekends so whats another couple of hours at the babysitters. "

 rac wrote on May 14, 2008 12:39 pm:
" LPS takes over 60% of our property tax money - they can cut a couple of administrators and take over the City's share. It's not the City's job to babysit, no matter what your income level is. How about instead of looking for handouts and "programs" you do something to help yourself? There's a novel idea. Yes, I agree, kids need things to do to help keep out of trouble. Could this be where parenting comes in? Hmmmm... "

 New to Lincoln wrote on May 14, 2008 12:52 pm:
" Here's a thought how about the people that use this service pay for it. What a concept paying your own way. "

 MO wrote on May 14, 2008 1:20 pm:
" The problem is that the Mayor asked the public to take a survey about their priorities for the city budget, and the top rated priorities were safety and security- things like parks and rec were at the way bottom, which is where these programs come in,but many people don't realize that is the case. Its frustrating to see those results when you see 2 cops standing on a corner trying to catch people speeding and realize thats included in "safety and security." "

 Hey Lincoln wrote on May 14, 2008 1:45 pm:
" Put your money where your mouths are and either pay more property taxes for the city budget or make a donation to keep these programs going. You had the opportunity to speak your minds during the survey process and town hall meetings. If you didn't participate, you have no right to complain about budget priorities. "

 To New to Lincoln wrote on May 14, 2008 1:54 pm:
" I'm glad you brought up the point, because it gives us users of Family Service and CLC an opportunity to correct you. I have children in both programs. I'm not low income, but a working parent that prefers the opportunities my children receives in these programs. I do pay for this service. The cost increases every year, but well worth it. FS conducts fundraisers. These fundraisers, not city or taxpayer dollars, pay for the toys the kids play with. Despite what some posters may imply, plenty of dollars are coming from the parents. "

 BK wrote on May 14, 2008 2:04 pm:
" Amazing, the nearly highest taxed place in the U.S. yet we're broke and
is programmed to say, "gotta raise taxes."! Ya can't even get close to
sell your house for what its assessed. But boy your gonna pay pay pay
and why can't families look after their kids or find jobs in another place
so they can look after their kids. Nobody looked after me, but I'm expected to do without, scrape the bottom of the barrell and fork it over
come hell or high water! Calif. is reassessing their houses because
they are worth half what they use to be. It would be a cold day in July
before Lincoln would be HONEST and reassess property that was OVER ASSESSED in the first place all because of Lincoln's GREED! "

 Look beyond your tax bracket wrote on May 14, 2008 3:08 pm:
" Perhaps the most ingenious comment thus far has been, " Here's a thought how about the people that use this service pay for it. What a concept paying your own way. " Sure this is a logical and reasonable request because most of these people can afford it. Like at Elliott Elementary where on average 93%-95% are on free or reduced lunch so they've got the money to spend for a program like this. What were we thinking? How silly of us that we didn't think of this idea before.

While were throwing around these great ideas, here's a couple more:
Tell those on unemployment to get a job!
Tell those on housing to pay their own rent!
Tell those on food stamps to buy their own food!

I'm not for those that abuse the system, but to have blinders on just because you can't or don't want to see the reality that Lincoln has those living in poverty is foolhardy. However I wouldn't expect anything less from those that can't reach beyond their own tax bracket! "

 Heres an idea wrote on May 14, 2008 3:13 pm:
" Didn't the school board and/or Ms. Gourley just hire or create a new administrator position with a salary alone (not including benefits) of over $120k? Wow, that would almost cover the city's share. But no....administrators are more important than kids at LPS obviously.

I'd love it for Mike Foley to audit LPS... "

 NL wrote on May 14, 2008 3:44 pm:
" Dee, cutting services to the elderly is the most hurtful of cuts. The elderly worked all their lives, only to have their retirement funds dwindle due to increased everything. They can no longer work, as parents of the children can. "

 CJ wrote on May 14, 2008 3:46 pm:
" I work on the Nebraska CLC Network, it is very important to our youth.Here is just a little research on the importance of it:

"Without structured, supervised activities in the after-school hours, youth are at greater risk of being victims of crime, or participating in anti-social behaviors. In fact, juveniles are at the highest risk of being a victim of violence between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.And the peak hour for juvenile crime is from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., the first hour that most students are dismissed from school." -http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/facts/afterschool.asp

"

 Clueless in Lincoln wrote on May 14, 2008 3:52 pm:
" A few years ago the Journal ran an article about city's employee salaries and posted all that were paid over $50,000 (or something like that). Can the Journal do a story about the LPS budget and list what they make? LPS and the budget is getting pretty ridiculous. I want to know where my money is going! "

 choices choices wrote on May 14, 2008 4:00 pm:
" Let's see, CLC or unsupervised children, too old for "daycare" for at least 2 hours every afternoon (Really, people, the non-profits have the space? Puh-lease) CLC or court costs for juvenile offenders. HMMMMM!!!!! "

 sixty dollars wrote on May 14, 2008 4:15 pm:
" If I understood the Mayor Open House correctly a $60 PER YEAR tax increase on a $150,000 house would cover the entire budget shortage and we would not be reading all these complains. That would be $5 per month. I think it would be money well spent. "

 Calm Down wrote on May 14, 2008 5:01 pm:
" Everyone needs to cool down. The article did not say that the city would stop funding CLCs. It said that the service could be provided more cheaply in the non-profit sector. They are right. It could be that the city will continue to provide monetary support to the program, just outsourcing it so that it costs less. This is exactly what Beutler should be doing - government cannot be all things to all people. "

 Disturbing Trend wrote on May 14, 2008 5:36 pm:
" This seems like a disturbing trend the Lincoln city government is establishing. Of the 23 CLC programs targeted for elimination,Arnold, West Lincoln, Goodrich, Belmont, Norwood Park, Dawes, Pershing, Huntington, Mickle, Clinton, Hartley, Riley, Brownell and Lakeview are all north of "O" Street. Elliott, Everett, McPhee, Hawthorne and Lefler are all between "A" and "O". The other three, Saratoga, Prescott and Holmes are between "A" and South streets. Perhaps there is a REASON why those centers are located at those schools. A quick look at a Lincoln map will reveal the vast majority of those centers are located in neighborhhoods historically with more diverse challenges (financial and otherwise). Putting the kids on the streets is probably not the best solution. What message is that sending? It you've got the money, we've got the time? I have lived in cities out of state where parts of town had been ignored and the people who lived there were "expendable." Our mayor or city council probabally wouldn't want to live in those areas. Congratulations! With last years cuts to the "expendable" youth, elderly and women, coupled with the proposed CLC cuts, it looks like we're well on our way to being one of those big cities. "

 Aron Grosser wrote on May 14, 2008 6:01 pm:
" This a ridiculous plan, a horrible decision for the city and it's residents. These programs help so many children and their families. A budget cut should be concidered else where. Awful! "

 Village wrote on May 14, 2008 6:53 pm:
" It takes a Village to Raise a Child. Many have written the benefits of CLCs. I applaud!

This is not the time for the village, Lincoln, to step away from raising the child.

Children are our future. This is not the "Mom and Pop' era. What is needed is support for all families. "

 CLC supporter wrote on May 14, 2008 9:17 pm:
" My child participated in the CLC programs offered at Mickle. I didn't need a babysitter but these programs offered chances to explore different activities/clubs that ranged from French to business to leadership to community service. This was a way to make friends, learn new skills & have new experiences. I can't say enough about the clubs/activities that were offered. I'd hate to see these programs on the chopping block. LPS spending is out of control & there are several ways for them to cut money & expenses. As a former LPS employee, I've seen the waste & how they don't use the resources that they have. How many more schools will stand empty next year while other ones are being built? If LPS is that hard up for money, why don't they sell the land the closed schools are on? We don't need any more taxes from them. "

 mark wrote on May 15, 2008 8:12 am:
" wow! when did it become the city's responsibility to make certain our kids have something to do while their parents work? are we trying to be Sweden, or what? "

 MO wrote on May 15, 2008 8:41 am:
" Are we REALLY talking about potentially around $5 a month, like "sixty dollars" said? I am not well off financially nor do I have kids but I'd be willing to pay my $5 as well as a few others' for the good of the community. I say raise taxes and stop cutting important services and possibly jobs. Even those of you that don't seem to understand that most parents have to work, sometimes 2 jobs, should appreciate the fact that this also means job loss for people employed in those positions. If the well being of the kids isn't enough for you, maybe that is?

ps. great response, "look beyond your tax bracket!" "

 How smart are they..... wrote on May 15, 2008 11:25 am:
" No money for schools but we have money to spend on a multi-million dollar new arena when Omaha has one only an hour away that is having a hard time staying aflot. Can't wait to leave this "great" state of Nebraska. Lincoln has the most messed up ideas ever. "

 Just Parent wrote on May 15, 2008 3:38 pm:
" My son loves CLC!! It is the best way for him to spend the afternoon before I am able to get off work. It is much more constructive for him to be playing at school with his friends than for me to pay a babysitter for him to sit in front of of TV for 2 hours before I am able to pick him up. Lets just get rid of everything that our kids love. Take away CLC programs, Move the state fair to GI, hey why dont we just move the Football Stadium to Omaha?? "

 involved wrote on May 15, 2008 7:42 pm:
" I have been involved in several CLC programs for the last several years. I have enjoyed every minute of it and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The city is a vital part to CLC and many people will loose their jobs if these programs are cut. Besides that many of these programs have seen kids from K-through middle school. What about their younger siblings that want to be able to do the same. What about the staff, schools, and families that have worked so hard to support these students. Were all of these years a waste? The CLC and Rec programs matter....they make a difference in some many lives! "

 Cut admin wrote on May 15, 2008 10:32 pm:
" According to HS websites, as far as administration goes, theres 4 at East, 3 at LHS (and about a billion Secretaries of sorts), 5 at North Star, 5 at Northeast (along with a bunch with crazy titles), 5/6 at Southeast, 5 at Southwest. That's easily 8 or 9 administrators that could be cut. And from my experience at LSE, theres a couple admin that just walk around halls and talk on their walkie-talkies to people 50 feet from them. Sounds like a waste of money to me. I say, 1 principal, 2 associate principals/coordinators/whatever squirrelly title they're given.
"

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