If approved, the program will fall under the new Department of Admini-stration, headed by the city manager.
The question on the ballot will read: “Shall City of Homer ordinance 06-39(s) become effective to create a Division of Community Schools within the Department of Administration and shall the City of Homer assume financial and administrative responsibility for the Community Schools Program beyond June 30, 2007?”
In April the council decided to take over the program from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on a one-year trial basis beginning in July after months of talks, negotiations and public testimony that overwhelmingly supported the program.
The October election will determine if the city will continue the program beyond that one-year commitment.
“I think it’s encouraging to allow the city voters to share their opinion of community schools and keep it around,” said Homer Community Schools Coordinator, Mike Illg.
“I’m optimistic that the voters will pass this ballot, because there is a lot of support for the program.”
The Community Schools program offers residents recreational and educational opportunities throughout the year at a low cost.
It also provides other community organizations, including Little League baseball and Pop Warner football, access to school district property during nonschool hours.
According to Illg, the program drew 6,000 participants to 213 classes and activities last year. More than 280 volunteers donated more than 3,300 hours of time to the program.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District currently runs the program, but will stop paying for salaries and administrative services at the end of the month.
State funding for the program evaporated in 2003 after the Legislature cut funding for all Community Schools programs.
In 2002, the state provided $500,000 for 53 programs across the state; in 1986, the state contribution to the programs was more than $4 million.
Since the state cuts, the school district and Illg have worked with the city and Kenai Peninsula College to find a funding solution.
The estimated annual budget for the program as run by the city is $125,000 including user fees.
If the question on the ballot is voted down, the city will likely not accept responsibility for the program, said council member Beth Wythe.
And such a move could lead to another round of negotiations and public outcry.
“I always feel you deal with that when you get there,” said Illg. “We just have to wait and see what happens in October.”
Ben Stuart can be reached at ben.stuart@homernews.com.
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