No A+ fee hike
for schools

A shortfall in funding is expected,
but the DOE has cut costs

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

Parents can expect no rate increases in the A+ after-school program this school year, although funds to cover a projected $2.3 million shortfall have not been released by Gov. Ben Cayetano.

"If necessary, we will go back to the governor to seek the amount of money needed," state schools Superintendent Herman Aizawa told the Board of Education last night. "I feel quite confident we can move forward with the entire year without having to cut into other areas for A+."

He assured board members he will not use other program funds to pay for the A+ program.

Enough money has been appropriated to run the A+ program for the first semester of the 1997-98 school year. Cayetano has asked Aizawa to resubmit a request for the additional funding in January if the money is still needed and the department has found no other alternatives to cover the shortfall.

Education officials in June projected it will cost nearly $12 million this year to run A+, which is expected to receive $8.6 million in funding. The projected $3.4 million shortfall was based on an anticipated enrollment of 22,648, nearly the same as the last school year. Enrollment figures for the 127 sites won't be available until late September, when all schools are back in session.

The department has begun some cost-cutting that will save the program at least $1 million, reducing the amount the department was seeking to $2.3 million.

The measures include cutting back on equipment purchases and repair and maintenance costs, ensuring that A+ sites are not overstaffed and that only eligible students are participating, and reducing administrative costs by cutting back on district coordinator meetings. Funds also won't be needed for an internal audit this year.

The department has also made changes in policy to ensure that A+ sites are run more efficiently and to increase accountability to comply with recommendations from the legislative auditor.

State auditor Marion Higa in December reported that the department was not managing its program resources properly:

A+ program participants were not being adequately screened for eligibility.

A+ program sites were overstaffed in certain positions, understaffed in others. Staffers were not qualified and nepotism appeared to be common.

A+ sites did not follow established controls to ensure fees were collected and deposited on a timely basis, and late fees were assessed arbitrarily.

The department completed and distributed a revised A+ program operations manual in July, Aizawa said. Training on new fiscal and personnel procedures were conducted for A+ site coordinators and staff to ensure compliance.

A+ sites have been instructed to maintain proper records on personnel, enrollment and monthly fees.

Staffing ratios also were adjusted to account for students who drop out of the program.

A visit of A+ sites by internal and outside auditors did not support the nepotism charge, Aizawa said. "None of the sites really did hire people just because they were relatives." Only after qualified individuals could not be found did the schools hire relatives, he said.

This year, A+ sites will be expected to seek proof of eligibility for children of self-employed parents. A site visitation checklist will be developed to ensure that all sites operate uniformly, Aizawa said. To increase efficiency and save money, the department is considering combining group leader and program aide positions.

The department will be expected to report back to the legislative auditor in October.