Community center loses district funding

Though the Lawrence School District has cut $98,000 from its budget that was allocated to the Lawrence-based Five Towns Community Center, Deputy Superintendent Gary Schall said that the district is “very, very committed” to the center.

Schall’s comments came a few days after a boisterous Board of Education meeting at which several residents blasted the district for its July decision to eliminate the funding as part of the district’s cost-cutting measures.

The money funded three positions at the community center, and those three employees are instrumental in serving the at-risk youth and growing Latino population, center officials said. The three are expected to lose their jobs on Dec. 31.

The services include intervention, group workshops, job preparedness and placement, and battling bullying and dealing with gangs. Despite the difficult economic times, the center has helped 60 individuals find jobs this past year, according to the center’s director, Bertha Pruitt.

“We will look at other funding to continue these services,” said Pruitt, who noted the center’s positive working relationship with the district. “We still have clients and they have needs. We are providing those services, but this makes it very tight and difficult.”

The funding was provided to the community center for several years, but Schall said that the district became aware that contracting with social workers outside the district violated the Lawrence Teachers Association contract. LTA President Lori Skonberg said the issue is not only contractual, but also a matter of state law, which prohibits the district from contracting elsewhere for services provides by union members.

“I do not know why district officials and previous LTA presidents have allowed the practice of contracting out of social workers,” Skonberg said. “While I understand these cuts are painful, Mr. Schall’s decision puts the district on the right side of the law and saves the district a substantial amount of money.”

Social-emotional development coaches are working directly with teachers and at-risk students, Schall explained. The district is also using a software-monitoring program to keep track of data relating to these students. “We are working with current counselors,” he said, “and we have a full complement of guidance counselors per the pupil ratio.”

Personally taking a hand in the lives of 28 at-risk middle school students and the same number of high school students, Schall said he meets once a week with them to do yoga. “It’s the highlight of my week,” said Schall, who added that he is “very, very passionate” about helping at-risk youth. He said he “learned from the best, Peter Sobel, at the community center.”

Six people, including Sobel, a community volunteer, addressed the school board and administrators at a meeting on Nov. 16. The center presented a strong front by having many of the children it serves there as well. District officials and board members listened to the comments, but remained silent.

Inwood Community Group founder Gregory Nunn, who noted that his community has the largest number of at-risk children, called for more discussion between the board and the community about these issues. “We must have communication,” Nunn said. “We respect the board for its hard work; now you must raise the bar higher, roll off the insults and discuss decisions openly.”

College student Ashley Howell said she was proud of the community center, as it was the first place she worked, which kept her off the streets and allowed her to gain leadership skills. “It kept me productive and keeps me on that path,” Howell said.