• “New Beginnings” at Risk

    May 25, 2009 // 2 Comments »

    As many of you know, I have been attending The Well in Feasterville, PA, since January of this year. While my transition from the Orthodox Church to an evangelical Protestant church has been challenging at times, I have begin to make some connections that are important to me. The people at The Well are what have made my transition a little less painful.

    Patti is one of those people. patti-and-trevorRecently, Patti shared with me that her program at Bensalem High School that provides vital support to teen parents who struggle with staying in school while raising children was in danger of being cut due to the economic budget crisis. This past Sunday she informed us that the program’s closing was eminent unless the School Board was convinced otherwise. I do not live in Bucks Co., PA, so I cannot address the School Boad directly. But I do have this blog and people who continually return to learn about the issues that I care deeply about.

    I have asked Patti to share with us a little bit about her job at “New Beginnings”, and why cancelling this program will have a detrimental impact on the young parents that have come to reply on their services.

    I encourage you to attend the School Board meeting on Wednesday May 27 at 7pm at 3000 Donallen Drive, Bensalem, PA 19020, and if you are a Bucks Co. resident, please consider speaking in support of the continued operation of this program!

    TDP: Tell me about your job and how you were lead to your work?

    Patti: 16 years ago, when I was ready to re-enter the work force I was looking for a job that would allow me to make a difference in my community while working with the youth population.  As a mother of young children, I also wanted a work schedule compatible with my children’s schedules.  The pregnant and parenting teen coordinator position at Bensalem High School was the perfect combination of all those requirements.

    In my 16 years as coordinator/counselor, the program has expanded to include a fatherhood component that provides support and information for teen dads.  We also developed a summer camp program with an emphasis on parenting skills while simultaneously helping students address issues (day care, homelessness, etc.)  that may interfere with a return to school in September (camp was always funded by an external grant and has never been paid for with school district monies).  Bensalem Township has partnered with the other Lower Bucks County School districts to apply for State grant funds that offset a portion of the cost of the New Beginnings program.

    In my part-time position as coordinator/counselor, I provide direct services, access to community services, educational and group support, and advocacy support within the school system and the community for student participants.  The number of students varies from year to year, but has been gradually increasing for the past four years and has peaked at 27 students at this point in time.  Eleven of those students are due to graduate, which means that there will be at least 16 pregnant or parenting students expected back in the fall.

    New Beginnings has maintained a graduation rate of over 90% throughout the 16 years I have been here.  That is an excellent standard that will be impossible to maintain without specialized support.

    TDP: What is the recent school board decision?

    Patti: The school board voted in the proposed budget to completely cut the New Beginnings Program, along with 4 teachers, a secretary, and a non-teaching assistant (a discipline position).  All of these positions are at the high school, so the general cuts will create a higher student/staff ratio, meaning there is less all around support for the high school population within our district, not to mention the complete loss of specialized support for pregnant and parenting teens.

    TDP: How does it impact the students in your program?

    Patti: The students in my program will be left with no specialized support to assist them in the process of accomplishing graduation from high school.  As these students navigate the maze of pre-natal care, day care and day care subsidy, health insurance, health complications (for themselves & their children), three-generational living, financial stressors, educational pressures, and the list goes on; there will be no one within the school district to be sure that these kids get access to the supports that they need in order to succeed.  Inevitably some of this population will fall through the cracks, drop out, and struggle to find a way to support themselves and their families.

    TDP: What do you think are the long-term repercussions if the school board’s decision stands?

    Patti: Long term, the consequences of a higher drop out rate will inevitably lead to a higher rate of welfare dependence for a longer period of time.  Today’s teen parents will struggle to help their children succeed educationally because they’ve been left without adequate support to accomplish the goal themselves.  There will also be a toll of a higher incidence of crime, drug & alcohol abuse, and other less appealing alternatives because good choices may seem out of reach for these kids.

    TDP: How can people help? What are some action items?

    Patti: Let the decision-makers know that you believe in paying a small amount of tax money now to prevent the large financial, personal, and societal cost that will ensue if we don’t.  Voice your support at school board meetings ~ the next school board meeting will be held at 3000 Donallen Drive, Bensalem PA 19020 on May 27th, 2009.  The final budget will be voted in at the board meeting on June 10th, 2009.

    You can also express your support for the New Beginnings Program (the support program for pregnant and parenting teens at Bensalem High School) by emailing the school board members as follows:

    Harry R. Kramer, President  - hkramer@bensalemsd.org

    Eugene A. Rothenberg, Vice President – erothenbe@bensalemsd.org

    James A. Bodnar – jbodnar@bensalemsd.org

    Dr. Lewis J. Brandt – lbrandt@bensalemsd.org

    Rose Jacobs – rjacobs@bensalemsd.org

    Carol T. Jones – cjones@bensalemsd.org

    Carol L. McGuire – cmcguire@bensalemsd.org

    Heather D. Nicholas – hnicholas@bensalemsd.org

    Dr. Stephen C. Nowmos – snowmos@bensalemsd.org

    And, you can contact the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent and Acting Director of Pupil Personnel as follows:

    Dr. James D. Lombardo, District Superintendent – 215-750-2800Ext. 4100  email: jlombardo@bensalemsd.org

    Dr. William J. Gretzula, Assistant Superintendent – 215-750-2800  Ext. 4103  email: wgretzula@bensalemsd.org

    Ms. Tammy Wood, Acting Director of Pupil Personnel – 215-750-2800 Ext. 4108  email:  twood@bensalemsd.org

    Posted in ChangeBloggers, Community