Posted on: Friday, April 29, 2005
Board won't increase A-Plus fee
| • | Restructuring of 24 schools wins an OK |
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Education Writer
The cost of sending children to the state's A-Plus after-school program will remain the same — for now.
A Board of Education panel yesterday balked at raising the monthly fee by up to $10 per child, but agreed to reconsider an increase soon.
Karen Knudsen, chairwoman of the board's budget committee, said she remained open to a fee increase if officials can present a convincing argument that it's necessary.
"We don't object to a possible increase but just need to know why it's needed," she said. The impact on lower-income families also is a big concern, she said.
The program is operated by the Department of Education and private childcare providers to provide a safe place for "latchkey kids" who might otherwise be home alone. More than 23,000 children participate in an average month.
DOE officials said additional money is needed to improve the program, which has experienced cash-flow problems and a high rate of staff turnover.
The monthly fee for one child is $55, and has not increased since 1996. The DOE had proposed to charge $65, and to create a sliding scale with smaller increases for families with more than one child participating.
"I don't think that's an outrageous amount for us to be talking about for after-school care," said board member Maggie Cox. "I don't mind if we put this off and get more data, but I don't think this is anywhere near an outrageous amount."
Board member Denise Matsumoto said she feared the program would continue to have staffing problems if there is not enough money available to run it properly.
"I don't know what the big deal is," she said. "After all these years, raising the fee by $10. Wow, we're really ripping parents off here. To me it's reasonable."
The program's statewide operating cost was $10.4 million in 2004, according to the DOE.
Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.
