BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Parents are outraged that an after-school study and mentoring program credited with dramatically improving students’ grades could get cut from next year’s budget.

Teachers supervise two-hour sessions at the Community Learning Centers at schools throughout the county, and older students volunteer to teach younger students, who otherwise would be going to an empty home because their parents work.

The students who frequent the centers often may be struggling with their grades or don’t easily make friends, parents say.

“This program is not just a nice service; it’s absolutely critical,” said Westminster resident Judy McPherson, whose godson goes to the center at East Middle School.

“It’s focused him on homework. His grades in elementary school were not the worst, but we struggled at home with homework. It has made a big difference.”

The centers have helped turn reclusive children into outgoing youngsters and changed struggling students into academic overachievers, supporters say.

But the centers in the Northwest area of the county are scheduled to get cut next year, according to the school system’s proposed budget, because a state grant funding the centers there runs out this year.

It would cost the school system $700,000 to continue the programs that are running if the state does not award another grant, Superintendent Charles Ecker said.

Centers in the Westminster area have one year left on their state grant, Ecker said, before the county could face similar budget decisions.

The Board of Education will have to make tough decisions about what to fund and what to cut after commissioners approve a county budget, he said.

“We know we’re going to have to make cuts to the budget, and what areas will take priority over another area, we don’t know at this point,” Ecker said.

“There’s a possibility they’ll stay and there’s a possibility they’ll get cut.”

Commissioners are expected to approve a budget by the end of May, and the school board will have a few days after that to decide what to fund, Ecker said.

msilvestri@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:44 PM MST on Sat., May. 10, 2008 re: "County teachers �upset� by raise; increase lowest in more than decade"

Examiner Reader said:
I want to ask a question about the attitude of 'teachers want to earn money from students" and "students dislike of teachers".

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

7:54 AM MST on Fri., May. 9, 2008 re: "County teachers �upset� by raise; increase lowest in more than decade"

Examiner Reader said:
We're sick of ignorant people such as yourself who have no idea what "teaching" actually entails. Most people are paid for their extra hours. Most people aren't cussed out by kids all day. Most people know that resorting to name calling is a sign of stupidity. Grow up.

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:22 AM MST on Fri., May. 9, 2008 re: "County teachers �upset� by raise; increase lowest in more than decade"

Examiner Reader said:
Cry Baby teachers. Every body works hard these days. Most people put in extra hours. Many people work alot harder than teachers. I'm sick of their whining.

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

7:52 AM MST on Thu., May. 8, 2008 re: "County teachers �upset� by raise; increase lowest in more than decade"

Examiner Reader said:
Go complain to the NEA. The taxpayers are more than a little incensed at their sky rocketing state, local, and property taxes.

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

9:09 PM MST on Fri., May. 2, 2008 re: "NAACP member appointed to the Carroll school board"

Examiner Reader said:
(To the reader who posted below) I don't think that line you quoted states what you said it does. Reading further, the writer was disagreeing a previous statement that suggested teachers don't work very much. I appreciate the efforts of those who teach my child. I notice their hard work.

1 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

3:39 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 17, 2008 re: "NAACP member appointed to the Carroll school board"

Examiner Reader said:
"...[T]here is nothing mentioned about the extra time put into the [teaching]job outside the contracted hours. It is not a job that ends when the school day is over." The problem with that worn argument is that it implies the rest of us--outside of the teaching arena--do not similarly put in more hours than are officially recorded. Quit whining. Don't like teaching? Try a job where your success or failure dictates whether you remain employed!

2 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:06 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "Teacher salaries, reducing class sizes school renovations dominate debate"

Examiner Reader said:
you rule

1 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

1:35 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Parents: Drug, alcohol policy targets athletes"

Examiner Reader said:
This policy does not seem practical especially because only there is only one Baltimore County that enforces this policy. Rather, other counties in Baltimore have policies saying that they will force students out of sports teams and other extracurricular activities if the students themselves possess it or consume it. I agree with Alexander regarding Carroll�s policy which has more of an incentive for students drinking at parties because they the students feel that regardless if they are �caught� and are not drinking them still get into trouble. Yes, this policy does impose more responsibilities on parents so they can be more on a look out for their children. Nonetheless, even if this policy were not to exist, parents should still always check what their children are up to regardless of busy lifestyles. If parents keep an eye on their children, it can keep them out of trouble. This policy is a little unfair as well because it forces students out of teams even if the student did

1 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

8:42 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 12, 2008 re: "NAACP member appointed to the Carroll school board"

Examiner Reader said:
So was this person the best choice for this job or was she put here becuse of the race game?

2 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:53 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 19, 2008 re: "Parents: Drug, alcohol policy targets athletes"

Examiner Reader said:
Previous poster is right, very right. There are only so many good teachers out there. We have 2.8 million k-12 teachers in the country. Baltimore County has a mixture of good and not so good. Teachers convince your unions to not allow the weak teachers to be carried by the good ones. They are the ones limiting the salaries of good teachers not the county executive. I suspect he would be in favor of differentiated pay based on performance.

3 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:53 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Carroll condom class nixed"

Examiner Reader said:
The power of the church.

7 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

9:11 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 27, 2008 re: "Teacher salaries, reducing class sizes school renovations dominate debate"

Examiner Reader said:
A previous comment demonstrates the misunderstanding much of the public has about the work a teacher does. There is more to it than meets the eye. Though the typical contract requires teachers to work 10 months a year and 7.5 hours a day, there is nothing mentioned about the extra time put into the job outside the contracted hours. It is not a job that ends when the school day is over. Check out an elementary school parking lot an hour after the students leave. Half of the staff is still there. The other half took work home. Just like police, public works, and others paid with tax money, the salaries of teachers will always be controversial. As a teacher with a Master's Degree, it is disheartening to see friends and family with much less education in less essential jobs, making more money. If more teachers took the advice of the commenter below and went to other jobs for more money, our nation's kids would pay in the end. There are only so many good teachers out there.

19 agree | 16 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:09 AM MST on Sat., Feb. 23, 2008 re: "New slots for teachers OK�d to limit class sizes"

voter said:
Would love to see an article with the percentage of money spent within the budget on different areas. Teacher salaries are only one area of the budget. Raise teacher salaries or hire more and something else must be cut. Sorry but that is life. What should be cut? Maintenance of building? Textbooks? Libraries? Sports? Band? Janitorial service? Lawn maintenance? Busing? Lesson materials? Computers? Counselors? Face it, education is expensive. But cc board of commissioners must cut 8 million.

23 agree | 25 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

10:32 AM MST on Tue., Jan. 15, 2008 re: "Teacher salaries, reducing class sizes school renovations dominate debate"

Examiner Reader said:
I agree with this comment and I think people do appreciate the fact that a public school teaching career is not path to riches. The facts are clear that a perceived low salary is not the top reason teachers leave. Many become teachers without a real appreciation for what is involved in the job. In the first few years you like it or not. If we hire smarter, we might retain longer but when you lose 200+ teachers in one year you have to hire who shows up. Working conditions and in-school training that addresses current teacher professional development needs are the bigger hot buttons for teachers frustrated by the move to teach-to-the-test rather than proficiency in a subject. Salaries is what we hear about because teacher's union officials keep harping on it - he who has the gold makes the rules. Ask a real teacher why they stay or leave and get some real feedback.

61 agree | 65 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

7:22 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "Teacher salaries, reducing class sizes school renovations dominate debate"

Examiner Reader said:
I'm always surprised at people constantly complaining about teacher salaries. They work fewer hours per day than a lot of people and fewer days out of the year than probably everyone else with a full time job, probably at a maximum of 75% of what many people do. Think $37,000 is low? Bump it up by 25% to in excess of $46,000 and it doesn't seem so bad does it? Everyone knows what teacher salaries are and many people who go into the profession balance that with the huge amount of time off, vacations, benefits, etc. If you want to earn more, choose a different profession and work 50-52 weeks out of the year, 8+ hours per day.

58 agree | 64 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

5:31 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 7, 2007 re: "Carroll could lose at least $8.5 million from state"

Examiner Reader said:
The real reason for this is carroll votes republican. The Dem's do not care about the children, they only care about power and retribution.

70 agree | 56 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

3:55 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 7, 2007 re: "Carroll could lose at least $8.5 million from state"

Sven said:
The solution is ALWAYS the same. Raise taxes.

59 agree | 53 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate