Pierce Extended Day Program Fails to Launch

Despite initial interest in an extended day program at Pierce Middle School for the fall, Milton Community Schools was forced to pull the plug after registration numbers floundered below the number needed to sustain the new endeavor.

Like the extended day programs at the elementary schools, the Pierce program would have offered programming for students from the end of school at 2:20 to 5 p.m. daily.  Milton Community Schools Director Pam Dorsey said this was the fourth or fifth attempt to have an after school program like this at the Pierce in the last 24 years.

Milton Community Schools pursued extended day again this year after a survey sent to all fifth, sixth and seventh grade parents, garnered a positive response. Dorsey said several hundred parents liked the idea and at least 70 said they would enroll their children.

The program needed just 20 students to sign up by July 15 to move forward. Only 12 children were enrolled as of now, canceling the program.

"I can only think, people just changed their minds," Dorsey said.

The program was designed as a place for students to do schoolwork under the supervision of extended day staff. Students could sign out to attend the school's other after school activities and then return to extended day until 5 p.m. pick up.

Currently, the Pierce offers a wide range of clubs, organizations and intramural sports. The program was introduced to fill the void to the end of the workday as well as be a place for students to go daily.

Pierce Middle School Principal James Jette, believes the program would be an asset to the school. "I think it would be a great idea if it ever gets off the ground," Jette said.

Tuition for the program was set at $2,250.00 per year to cover the cost of staff. All of the Milton Community School programs must be self-sufficient.

Dorsey said in the past the proposed program took different structures. Some of the proposals included daily lessons or activities while others, like this year's, were more open-ended.

Dorsey said she was confident the program would work this year because of the response to the survey. "When it came down to put your money and your name on the line they didn't come through," said Dorsey.