Tutoring and enrichment IDEAS Center threatened.
By: Jeff Milgram
Princeton Regional Schools officials are crossing their fingers that the state will renew a grant to fund a tutoring and enrichment program even though the district no longer qualifies for the aid.
If the money is not approved or if it is reduced the district plans to seek outside contributions to keep the program alive.
The Board of Education, faced with a $2 million shortfall in its budget for next year, cannot fund the program.
In a related matter, the district learned Thursday that it will receive the same amount of state aid, $3.6 million, that it received this year.
At stake is the future of the IDEAS Center, funded by a $750,000 three-year federal grant that expires this year. The problem is that under the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal government turned over the purse string to individual states. New Jersey has changed some of the grant guidelines to favor the poorest districts, said Jeffrey Spear, the school board member who wrote the original grant application.
"It would have made things easier for Princeton if the federal government hadn’t changed its criteria for funding," said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Jeffrey Graber.
"When we reapplied, we looked at a number of options," he said.
The elementary and middle school cultural-enrichment programs may still be eligible because they take part either before or after school, among the periods now required under the guidelines.
But the Princeton High School program may not be eligible because it provides tutoring and mentoring help throughout the day. The PHS program also does not meet Title I eligibility because "we’re not a needy enough school district," said school board President Charlotte Bialek.
While Princeton is considered an affluent suburban district, "We do have a surprising number of students who live beneath the poverty level," Ms. Bialek said.
Districts that have schoolwide Title I programs will get preference in funding, Dr. Graber said.
He said the district was encouraged to reapply because it already has programs up and running. Mr. Spear said Princeton Regional was permitted to apply despite new guidelines, but he’s not sure if that will be enough.
"We don’t know if that will be an impediment or not," Mr. Spear said.
Dr. Graber compared the PHS program to a college learning center where students receive tutoring and review of their work.
The IDEAS Center has the support of the board’s Minority Education Committee. "All of us think this is a real loss," Ms. Bialek said.
The district would need between $60,000 and $70,000 to keep the PHS program alive, Mr. Spear said.
The high school program is used by students of all abilities, races and social classes.
The program, located in the school’s basement, has a director and uses teachers and volunteers from Princeton University and the 55PLUS club. "It was designed to have a home-away-from-home atmosphere," Mr. Spear said.
"It allows students who have trouble with basic abilities to get help," he said. "It’s been instrumental in keeping a number of students in school and getting a number of students into college."
Mr. Spear said the board has formed a committee to find donors.
Dr. Graber said the campaign to fund the program should be "a broad-based effort."
Mr. Spear is confident the money can be found. "I’m hoping we can keep it going," Mr. Spear said.

