Council seeks details on $1M funding for after‑school middle‑school programs

The finance committee reviewed the budget line for Schools as Neighborhood Resources (SEAP), which supports after‑school sports and cultural activities for middle‑school‑age youth. The director said the program provides a city‑funded complement to school offerings and that the funding has been in place for decades to support out‑of‑school programming.

"It's approximately $1,000,000," the director said, describing the amount that goes annually to support these middle‑school activities. Council members asked for a detailed list of participating schools, the specific programs offered, and the staff assigned to each location so they can assess effects when district buildings close or are reconfigured.

Council members raised particular concern about the planned closure of Collinwood High School and asked where programs currently offered there will be relocated. One councilmember requested a mapping of program sites across neighborhoods so the city can ensure that service gaps do not open where schools or facilities are removed from service.

The committee asked staff to deliver an itemized list of schools, program timeframes and staffing numbers. No funding change was approved at the hearing; members said the requested breakdown is necessary to evaluate whether allocations should be adjusted to cover emerging gaps.