Grant cuts causing LEAP to close

Bigfork’s LEAP into Learning after-school program is closing its doors at the end of the 2011-12 school year because of cuts in grant funding.

The 21st Century Afterschool Program grant that started the program five years ago is up this year. Any business with non-profit status can apply for the grant. Some Bigfork community members have already begun discussing who will apply for the grant.

If LEAP were to re-apply, it would be for 60 percent of the funding they received over the last five years.

“We wouldn’t be able to make another five-year commitment to the grant and then raise the additional funds we need,” said Max Corder, LEAP’s board treasurer.

The reasons are two-fold.

Not only is LEAP looking at a reduction in the grant if the Office of Public Instruction was to accept their re-application, but tuition paid by after-school participants has reduced in the last five years.

More Bigfork students are eligible for the free or reduced school lunch program now than when LEAP opened because of the down economy. Guidelines set by the grant rules those students out of paying tuition.

Over the last four years, tuition and fees made up an average of $36,000 in revenue for the LEAP program, $56,000 is funded by the grant and $25,000 was made by fundraising events. LEAP’s yearly revenue totals to $117,000.

LEAP’s expenses average $127,000 a year. Corder said the largest expenses are transportation, employee salaries, rent to Crossroads Community Church and insurance costs.

LEAP shows $10,000 in the red on a yearly basis.

The grant renewal would result in a revenue cut of $22,400 per year.

“It’s hard to run as it is, it’s going to be more so when the funding is cut by that much,” LEAP’s director Betty Darr said. “I think like most things, it (LEAP) has probably run its course.”

Darr became director of the program at the beginning of the school year. Darr said she thinks Bigfork has a strong enough need for an after-school program that another entity will probably step up and take over for LEAP.

Because LEAP is the only Bigfork program that has held a 21st Century grant, any other Bigfork non-profit organization that applies for it has the potential to receive full funding. But Darr said she hasn’t heard of any groups stepping forward to take over the after-school program yet.

“I don’t know what it’s going to look like, but whatever happens, it will be what it’s meant to be,” Darr said. “In the end it will probably be better than it ever was.”

Corder said he wants Bigfork’s public schools to apply for the grant.

Superintendent Cynthia Clary said the district is having a meeting on Thursday to decide if the 21st Century Learning Center grant is something they want to pursue or not.

“If someone else is going to come up with a program that’s comparable to LEAP, than we don’t want to be in direct competition with anything any community member wants to do,” Clary said. “Bigfork’s school-kids would benefit from that program as well.”

A letter the public instruction office sent out in March said they will try to have the grant application available online by April 2. The letter also said the office would be available to provide any assistance necessary.

An intent to apply form is due to the office by March 31.The form can be found at http://www.opi.mt.gov/Programs/TitlePrgms/SafeSchools/21Century/index.html.

Mary Ellen Earnhardt, the Education Program Representative, can be contacted by calling 444-3519 or through e-mail, mearn hardt@mt.gov.