SAFE BASE officials were given the green light to accept a $100,000 grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City after the previous grant expired.
USD 257 board of education members also authorized program director Angela Henry to solicit more than $20,000 in donations to cover an unexpected budget gap.
Because the new grant was only enough to sustain the program through March 1, Henry said the total funds available — the $100,000 grant along with the city and USD 257 school district’s proposed contributions of $31,122.50 and $29,882 respectively — aren’t enough to meet the programs needs if it is to maintain the traditional May completion date.
As of this morning, SAFE BASE, which will be in its twelfth year, had $25,000 remaining in donated reserve funds, helping to ease the burden of what would have been more than a $47,000 budget shortfall.
“I feel very confident telling you that (SAFE BASE) can raise the remaining $22,468.75 that are needed,” Henry told the board Monday night as she pointed to extensive fundraising training SAFE BASE officials are receiving through Champions for Kids, a Northwest Arkansas-based non-profit focused on helping children enrichment programs find sustainable funding sources.
SAFE BASE also hopes to find additional funding by revising existing agreements it has with the city. Jake Lawrence, physical fitness coordinator for Iola and SAFE BASE, currently spends half of his work week, or 20 hours, working for the city and the other half working at SAFE BASE. With the potential changes, which are still waiting approval from the city council, the physical fitness coordinator would see his role at SAFE BASE reduced to 11.5 hours per week, increasing his city responsibilities to 28.5 hours per week.
Departing board member Deanne Burris said the city shouldn’t bat an eye at the proposed change.
“The city (recreation department) should be providing (physical fitness programs) for Iola kids afterschool anyway… whether they’re in SAFE BASE or not,” she said.
If the city council approves the change, it will see a $13,422.50 increase in its contribution to SAFE BASE.
Board member Buck Quincy suggested reducing the pay of the certified teachers at SAFE BASE, who currently receive the same rates as the district teachers, if keeping the program’s doors open longer would result.
“Even though times are a little tougher now, maybe it’s time to look at that as something that needs to be renegotiated if it would allow our program to go a month longer or two months longer,” he said.
If approved by the city coucil, the SAFE BASE afterschool program will run from Sept. 12 through May 10, or 123 program days.
Although the matter is not yet scheduled for hearing, Henry said she expects the city council to accept the proposal.
SAFE BASE seeking donations
