Facing a cut in the evening program at the Children’s Center, the ParentAdvisory Council is now seeking self-sufficient models in an effort tomaintain evening childcare.The Children’s Center recentlysubmitted a budget proposal for the Fall2001 and Spring 2002 semesters to ASI that does not include an eveningprogram. Under the proposed budget, the Children?s Center would close at6 p.m., Monday through Friday, instead of its current closing time of8:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

The Children?s Center budget, which is under review by ASI, willactually be increasing by an undetermined amount, but rising operationcosts have led to the shut down of the evening program, said Teri Mahan,director of the Children’s Center, at a PAC meeting. The PAC iscurrently seeking a self-sufficient model.

“We are working on it,” said Chris Miller, a member of the PAC.

The PAC has come up with a set of criteria for a self-sufficientprogram, and a series of models have been suggested, Miller said. Anymodel that is proposed by the PAC must meet the criteria, according toMiller.

These criteria include the creation of a program that is financiallyself-sufficient from the Children’s Center budget, that meets childcarelicensing and insurance standards and is equal to the care that isoffered in the day program, according to an evening care informationflyer from the PAC.

Potential models that have been discussed by the PAC include increasingthe cost of the evening program to cover the cost of keeping it staffed,Miller said. The PAC could still ask ASI for additional funding to coversmaller expenses, including utilities and insurance costs, Miller said.

The PAC has been working on a solution since the beginning of the Fall2000 semester when it found out that the evening program was to be cut,Miller said.

“We have been working on it all year,” she said.

Last Fall, the Children?s Center faced the prospect of closing down forthe spring semester, but found money in a last minute deal that allowedthe Center to use extra federal grant money toward its evening program.The grant was originally mandated to underwrite Children’s Center costsfor Pell grant eligible students, but some money was left over afterthose requirements were fulfilled, said Carol Ackerson, executivedirector of ASI.

“That gave the Parental Advisory Council the opportunity to really havea whole year to look for an alternative,” Ackerson said.

Along with offering schedule flexibility to students, the eveningprogram also offers convenient hours for the staff members who work past6 p.m., according to Alison Wilford, coordinator for the Children?sCenter.

“I was really grateful to have evening hours when I began working here,”Wilford said.

There are some Children?s Center staff that need to work at night, shesaid. Wilford acknowledges both sides of the evening program, but saidit is a necessary program for several families.

“Everyone who works at this part time, works per semester,” said TeriMahan, director of the Children’s Center.

The Children’s Center will have fewer staff next semester, althoughMahan did not know how many at the time of interview.

“I don?t know exactly the numbers,” Mahan said.

The budget is based on hours and money will be saved by having theCenter open for a shorter time, Ackerson said.

Mahan, who devised the budget and submitted it to ASI and is in herfirst semester as director of the Center, would not comment on how thedecision came about to exclude the evening program.

According to Ackerson, ASI was involved in the process of coming up witha budget proposal.

“Program directors are actively involved with me in preparation of thebudget,” Ackerson said.

According to Ackerson, programs are given guidelines for their budgetproposals, including an approximate amount of fee allocation that theCenter can use.

If Mahan had submitted a budget, within resources, that included anevening program it could have had a chance for recommendation, Ackersonsaid.

According to Ackerson, cutting the evening program made sense afterweighing its cost versus the number of people who use it.