SEQUIM — Like many in this small city, Suzanne Little closely follows the unfolding drama surrounding the school district’s levy failure and proposed program cuts.
Should the district fail at its second attempt to pass a levy in May, and the $1.5 million in cuts made largely to after-school programs stand, she may feel the effects more than others.
Little is executive director of Sequim Boys & Girls Club, a recreational facility providing activities and a place to hang out to community youths.
It’s located on East Fir Street, adjacent to several school buildings.
Ask Little if the club can substitute for the dozens of programs set to be axed out of Sequim schools, and her answer is troubling.
“We can always accommodate additional kids,” Little said.
“But as to filling the gap if all the art, music and sports are cut from the schools — and filling it at the level they’re doing it — well, there’s just no way to replace that.”
The Boys & Girls Club offers basic memberships at a cost of $24 per child for the calendar year. That entitles children to spend as many as five hours daily at the club and to receive a daily snack.
Other, more specialized programs in athletics and arts are available for additional fees.
The club was meant to supplement, not replace, school-based activities, Little said.
“In the worst-case scenario, if we lose all those programs in the schools, we’ll do our best to pick up the slack,” she said.
“But there’s no way we can duplicate them. Just no way.”
The club is looking at possible grant funding to expand music and art programs, but any additional, specialized programs would have to be fee-based, she said.