An after-school program to care for low-income students in Nevada City schools will continue, despite state budget cuts, officials said Monday.
District officials will restructure the program by Aug. 31; the nonprofit Sierra Nevada Children's Services is setting up a way to take over the program; and no changes will be made until October, Nevada City School District chief business official Heather Cameron said.
“We want to make sure that parents don't panic,” Cameron said. “In these times, it's difficult to guarantee anything. But if there was one thing I'd guarantee in this district, this would be what I'd pick.”
School board members will meet to discuss the changes at 9:30 a.m. today at the district office at 800 Hoover Lane, Nevada City.
The school district's latchkey program provides subsidized care before and after school for the children of low-income families. About 35 to 40 children tentatively are signed up for the program this year within the five-school district, coming from more than 30 families, Cameron said.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cut statewide funding for such programs, and the Nevada City district stands to lose $90,000 to $144,000, Cameron said. But the district also will receive increased funding for alternative programs, allowing the district to contract out to Sierra Nevada Children's Services, which works through Nevada County, Cameron said.
Sierra Nevada Children's Services also is receiving a grant to take on the load, Cameron said.
“We don't expect a drop in service,” Cameron added.