Club Rowe Seeking Help for Modular Classroom

02-34-clubrowe
     by Matt Hongoltz-Hetling
     
     NORWAY – Last Thursday, the board of selectmen turned down a $5,000 request from Clubrowe Day Care Director Stacey LaFlamme, who is attempting to raise funds to help the afterschool program move into a modular classroom without cutting services to 37 area students.
     The selectboard said that, while they support the cause, the funds are not available at the current time.
     Clubrowe has traditionally been housed at Guy E. Rowe Elementary School, where it has built strong relationships with the school's academic staff that have allowed the center to focus on helping students reach their academic goals.
     The program was located in Guy E. Rowe's classrooms for seven years.
     “The School District has a great opportunity to start a Pre-K program this fall,” read LaFlamme's proposal. “Unfortunately, this means we lose the space we have been able to use. To avoid having to reduce our enrollment from 62 to 25 students and from cutting staff, we need to purchase a modular classroom from Schiavi Leasing Corp as soon as possible.”
     The main expenses for building the classroom were listed as totaling $26,884, with additional costs for various operating expenses.
     Town Manager Dave Holt said that, while he supported the Clubrowe program, he didn't know where in the town budget the $5,000 would come from.
     Selectman Mike Twitchell expressed frustration with the town's inability to meet the request in light of other expenditures.
     “I see that other article we just signed for $100,000, and now we can't come up with $5,000,” he said.
     Selectman Irene Millett suggested that the town help in a smaller way by waiving $150 in permitting fees that Clubrowe would otherwise have to pay.
     The selectboard agreed to bring the matter to the voters in the future if the funding shortages still exist during the annual town meeting.
     “We're really kind of stuck,” said Selectman Russell Newcomb. “ I'd really hate to see them lose the program. If it came down to it that they needed help come town meeting time, that would probably be the best time to help.”
     Clubrowe, unlike other area daycare centers, exclusively caters to school-age children. LaFlamme has said that this allows them to improve the test scores of schoolchildren by allowing them to schedule activities like group homework time and reading time. Experts say that programs like Clubrowe keep children safer, and also help them to achieve on test scores. The federal government regularly funds after-school enrichment programs as a way to help children succeed.A study of one such program in Los Angeles found that participants “had better school attendance and higher scores on standardized tests of mathematics, reading and language arts,” according to the National Youth Violence Prevention Center, a subdivision of the CDC.
     The classroom itself costs $16,900, but the ADA ramp and stairs cost an additional $5,000. The cost of transporting and setting up the structure is another $3,384, and an additional $1,600 is needed for propane heaters, a CMP deposit, and permits from the town and the state.
     Those who would like to donate to Clubrowe are encouraged to call 595-5174 or mail a check made out to “Clubrowe” to POB 215, Norway, ME 04268.