Newton Citizen

COVINGTON -- Oak Hill Elementary School will not get an after school academic program -- at least not this school year.

The Newton County School System has released survey results of parents at Oak Hill Elementary and have determined that one is not yet needed at the school.

NCSS sent home paper copies of a survey on Nov. 19 and asked parents to return them by Dec. 4.

The survey gave parents two choices: "Yes, I would definitely use this service for my child" or "No, I would not use this service" because it either costs too much, the hours are not convenient, they do not need after school care or other reasons.

Linda Hayden, associate superintendent for curriculum at NCSS, said 56 parents voted yes and 122 voted no. The specific reasons were not made available as of press time.

"Therefore, no after school academic program will be done at Oak Hill Elementary School beginning in January 2010," Hayden said in her report to the board.

Currently, NCSS has after school programs at Ficquett, Live Oak, Middle Ridge, Porterdale, Rocky Plains and West Newton elementary schools, Clements and Fairview theme schools, Liberty Middle School and Challenge Charter Academy. Total enrollment at all of the schools is 542 with enrollment ranging from 14 at Challenge Charter Academy to 79 at Fairview Theme School, according to Deena Sams, ASAP coordinator at NCSS.

The program costs $40 per week per child and operates from dismissal until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. It offers assistance with homework, reading and math enrichment activities and a snack.

Other interested schools will send home surveys the first week of May 2010 to determine if there is enough interest for an after school program, Sams said.