By Josh Williams
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
LOWER MANHATTAN — A heavily depended upon after-school program with a contract to operate through next year is slated to close in June as part of city budget cuts.
The city stands to save $120,000 by shutting down I.S. 289’s after-school program, located inside the school on Warren and West streets, under cuts authorized by the Bloomberg administration.
But the program, which serves 120 students per day, has a signed contract with the Downtown Community Center running through the end 2011. The Community Center staffs the program and provides materials for its operation.
Members of Community Board 1’s Youth and Education Committee gathered on Tuesday to mull options for preserving the program, including possibly requesting across-the-board cuts for all of the city’s after-school programs.
“This is devastating news for our school,” said I.S. 289 PTA President Toni Robinson, who’s own children use the program. “We definitely need an after-school program.”
The program, which serves 200 students between the ages of 11 and 14 throughout the year, offers help with homework, science and technology competitions, athletic leagues and numerous other special services.
“Many of these students come from homes where the parent doesn’t speak English,” said Gabi Sasson, assistant program director for the I.S. 289 program. “When they need help with their homework, they have no support system and come to us.”
Parents and teachers at the meeting argued that after-school programs across the city should bare the brunt of the budget cuts.
“The method in which they cut, by ending our contract midyear and pitting some programs against each other, is crazy,” said Bob Townley, executive director of the Downtown Community Center. “What am I going to do, sue the city?”
Committee members will decide on drafting a recommendation at an April meeting, which will be presented to the full community board for approval.
