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Pols, educators scurry to save COMPASS
By Colin Steele,Staff writer, Gloucester Daily Times, Friday May 13, 2005, page A1
City and school officials will look for money to save a successful program for alienated students that now sits on the budget's chopping block.
Mayor John Bell is setting up a meeting with Superintendent Christopher Farmer, School Committee Chairman Jonathan Pope and representatives from Action Inc., whose off-campus COMPASS program tutors students who couldn't make it at the high school. The School Committee eliminated $24,000 for two tutors, putting the entire program at risk.
"I think all of us understand the importance of COMPASS, and once again it came down to, it was about hard choices," Bell said at Wednesday's School Committee meeting. "It was about funding sources."
The meeting will explore other possible sources of paying for the tutors, Bell said.
COMPASS' 11 seniors this year are all expected to graduate. Many are planning to attend college and one earned a full four-year scholarship to a state school. All five of last year's seniors graduated, with four going on to college and one enlisting in the military.
COMPASS stands for "Creativity, Opportunity, Motivation, Principles, Authenticity, Self-Esteem, Self-Sufficiency."
Executive director William Rochford and four other Action employees pleaded with the School Committee on Wednesday not to do away with the tutors. They did not come to the School Committee during the budget process because they did not know COMPASS was at risk, Rochford said.
"I'm convinced that you made the wrong vote, and I think now you're convinced that you made the wrong vote," he said. "Now the question is, how do we get it back?"
That may not be so easy, Pope replied. The School Committee passed its budget last month.
"The budget is in the City Council's hands," Pope said. "I don't know that we can go down and ask for them to change it."
The schools' Building and Finance Subcommittee is continuing to review the budget and will make recommendations if the City Council approves more or less money than the School Committee requested.
"They will be taking (the COMPASS issue), among other things, under advisement," Pope said.
The two tutors teach the four core subjects: English, math, social studies and science. Action has gathered another $130,500 to pay for two tutors of elective courses and the other costs of the program. The major contributors include the North Shore Workforce Investment Board and the city's Community Development Block Grant.
Action has also raised $130,000 to build classrooms specifically for COMPASS in the basement of Brown's Mall. Without the two core tutors, Action will have to return the money to donors.
"Without your $24,000, it appears you really don't care if these kids make it or not," Rochford told the School Committee.
Faced with skyrocketing health insurance costs and little relief in state aid, the School Committee passed a $32.1 million budget last month that eliminated nine teachers and two administrators. It avoided mixed-grade classes and school mergers, two more drastic and controversial proposals the committee had considered.
"We're trying to do what we can for all children," Pope said.
For related articles:
Budget panel backs COMPASS Gloucester Daily Times
6/20/05
COMPASS program a success Gloucester Daily Times (letter) May 27, 2005
COMPASS program deserves school support Gloucester Daily Times Editorial 5/11/05
Rough seas ahead for high school's COMPASS program Gloucester Daily Times 5/10/05 |
