The Athens/Meigs Educational Service Center's alternative education program faces a $1,200 state budget cut this year, forcing local school districts to compensate late in the fiscal year.
The state awarded $120,000 to the Athens alternative education program when it began in the 2000-01 school year and cuts have been made gradually, said Bryan Swann, Athens/Meigs ESC treasurer.
The original $120,000 was reduced to $105,000 during the 2001-02 school year, and in April 2003 it was reduced to about $98,000, Swann said. This year the budget is about $97,263.
The alternative education program works with Health Recovery Services, a non-profit agency, to provide behavioral services with interactive education. Programs include crisis intervention, substance-use-prevention education, and individual and group counseling, said Ellen Martin, HRS director of operations.
Students who attend the program have difficulties functioning in traditional classroom settings and might need some clinical services integrated with their education throughout the day, she said. Students also attend the program for short-term school suspension, usually one to 10 days.
In order for (students) to be successful
you have to deal with the behavior issues that are presenting obstacles to their learning she said.
The problem with the cuts made last April and this year is that schools already have spent the money expected from the original budget. Because the school districts' fiscal calendars end in June, they have only a couple months after the April cut to make up for that money, Swann said.
Each year our costs go up and each year they slightly cut the grant is a bigger difference the school has to make up he said.
The educational service center provides the alternative education program for up to 100 students from Athens City, Trimble, Alexander, Federal Hocking and Nelsonville York school districts and the joint vocational school at a facility in Albany, said ESC Superintendent John Costanzo.
Costanzo said adjustments in the program's budget can be made, but when funds decrease, the number of services offered usually decreases.
We're not in the business of starting programs we cannot sustain
he said, adding, however, that the program will end if state money for the program continues to be taken away.
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Danielle Trusso
