if there is no money for it, there is no money for it and the families will have to find other suitable daycare or arrangements. Its not the communities responsibility and/or role to provide this for peoples children. It is the responsibility and role of the parents to find adequate daycare or sitters for the children that THEY brought into this world. :) As a single parent myself i always made my own arrangements while i worked 3 jobs, whether it be daycare, enrichment programs or family/friends who could help. i managed.

I think it's a shame the enrichment classes will not be offered this year, not because I will be out a cheap daycare option, but because my daughter has enjoyed the opportunity to learn new skills and explore her interests all while enjoying the company of friends in the summer. For example, she has taken Spanish, painting, and gardening classes. It was an affordable option for us versus the camp options that just don't fit into our family budget. Unfortunately, the elimination of the enrichment classes is yet another result of the budget cuts that have come from the state.

On the subject of changing school schedules to fit work schedules, I don't think that is necessarily the right direction to go. I'm not saying that school schedules couldn't be modified to enhance learning and retention of information, but if you are just adjusting the school schedule to eliminate the need for daycare in the summer, then you are doing it for all the wrong reasons.

Our kids are old enough to work now, but I remember how much fun they had in the enrichment programs during summer school in Racine Unified. Not only did their minds remain active for those 6 weeks, but they were outside, too, running around with friends and they actually learned some things, too!

We paid $10 per child to attend the sessions and that paid for the entire 6 weeks. I think parents would be willing to pay for these programs that are really beneficial, and the district could possibly increase revenue at the same time.

As a stay at home mom for the past 9 years, my step daughter really enjoyed those classes one or two summers when we chose to have her go (when vacation or other conflicts weren't an issue). It was a really nice thing to have and it certainly wasn't a matter of daycare.

I have to ask the writer of this blog... rhetorical if she chooses...who did and will you vote for? Our votes speak loudly in the classrooms...probably the loudest.

400 full time MPS jobs cut - 8 schools will be closed by next year.
Kenosha Unified is losing 30% of their fulltime staff.
Racine is on the edge of destruction.

Keep voting for Walker and his pals and this will only escalate.

@Anna - as the parent of kids who are well past the tween stage, but not so far that I don't remember, we had a simple rule: they couldn't leave the house or have people over while we were at work. I got home at 5 and they had until the streetlights came on then to go hang out as long as we knew where they were and with whom.

I think it's time that we start understanding that kids need to be engaged and we need to show up for other people's kids. So, yeah, I do think it's the community's responsibility to to step and make the changes. We can only change the schools if we change the community. If we're the community, what is stopping us?

We are very disappointed in the loss of summer enrichment programs. My kids sampled other languages, took fun art classes, put on musicals, learned to type, built an underwater remote-controlled vehicle, and much more. They loved meeting new kids, going to a school other than their regular one, and having some structure in their summer days. It was never a matter of day care, but rather, keeping them engaged in learning in a different way. I would have paid far more than what the district charged--it was the best bargain in town!
In addition, having so many options in addition to the remedial programs meant that lots of kids went to summer school--and minimized the stigma of having to go for remedial reasons. It's a big loss.
As for realigning the entire school year, families that attend year-'round school at Janes reportedly love it, but there apparently isn't interest in making this district-wide. Since our entire U.S. culture seems to be tied to a 9-month, fall through spring school year, changing it would require tremendous effort. JMHO.

Thanks for your humble opinion Kathleen Holley. You make some very valid points.

Great conversation! My kiddo is a senior now (sniff), and when she was in Kindergarten the teacher recommended that she take some of those enrichment classes. She didn't have to, but the teacher said she would definitely benefit from taking them. Quite honestly, I think the kid loves learning because of some of those learning experiences. The classes allowed her to love learning. One year it was French and Spanish, another it was a fun science class, another was a little extra help in math. She's in pre-calc now and was also allowed to go to a more advanced science class. Would I pay for them now? Yes.

And one more thing... I would agree with the statement that as taxpayers we shouldn't have to pay for these things if we didn't have so much poverty, unemployment, and underemployment. Keep in mind that while the city still has double digit unemployment, one of the key reasons for that is a lack of education. The unemployment rate for people who have a PHd is 2.5 percent, someone who has less than a high school education is 14.1 percent. http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm So strong arguments against unions and how much we should be paying teachers aside... there's an undeniable link between education and unemployment. So yeah, maybe we don't pay for summer enrichment programs, but what influence do those classes have on the success/failure of those children? Are the kids who take those classes more engaged students? Do we have higher grad rates/grades if a kiddo takes enrichment classes? I think if we understand the answers (and I sense a story on this), then perhaps we can more earnestly look at the cost/benefit of the programs.

Precisely! If keeping kids engaged in education comes from a 6- or 8-week enrichment class or classes, then why aren't we making this a priority? Studies have shown that kids who participate in summer programing don't lose as much by the next school year as kids who are left to their own devices. How come we aren't putting that kind of thinking into these decisions?

Anna - as for only children, just another great reason to offer the classes, I think. And Kathy also raises good points about the great variety of enrichment classes we've had. From Project Talent to sign language to German/Spanish to art ... kids are ... enriched ... for having taken these classes.

We were surprised at the $10 cost per kid for the summer school period. We would have gladly paid more. I know other parents feel the same.

In regards to year round school, I am not opposed to the idea, but I wonder how many schools in our district don't have air conditioning. The first school where I taught in Nebraska didn't have any. Just imagine it's 90 degrees and humid and the only device you have to cool a classroom of 28 students is a box fan at the front of the room -- it doesn't make for a very conducive learning environment. Maybe if our society ever decides that education should be a priority & actually invests in public education rather than taking away from it, changes like that could happen.