In an attempt to resolve a $245 billion deficit in the Phoenix city budget, the city is proposing the total elimination of the PAC (Phoenix Afterschool Center) program, an affordable out-of-school-time recreation program provided by the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. Historically, PAC has focused on serving Phoenix children in high-risk neighborhoods where access to afterschool programs is not otherwise available.
PAC's original vision was to:
- Increase school readiness and attendance
- Foster community and neighborhood partnerships
- Encourage parent and family involvement
- Improve academic achievement
- Support schools through direct involvement as partners, staff resources, and boosters of lifelong learning
City funds spent on the PAC afterschool and summer programs are an investment in ensuring healthy children, healthy families, and a healthy community. Research proves that high quality afterschool programs:
- Positively impact children's academic achievement
- Keep kids safe and out of trouble
- Support working families
- are responsive to the unique needs of each child and family
In 2007, PAC served more than 9,000 children at 124 afterschool and summer sites for over 1.9 million visits in many of Phoenix's most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. In the past three years, budget cuts, fee increases and detrimental program changes have resulted in
- a reduction in sites to the current 55 sites,
- an increase in fees charged,
- a decline in registration, and
- a diminution of program quality with all field trips excluded.
The 55 remaining PAC sites serve over 2,100 children per session throughout the City of Phoenix, with full-day PAC sites offered during the summer months. If the proposed budget cuts are approved by the City Council in early March, all PAC afterschool programs will close at the end of the school year and there will be NO summer programs for these Phoenix children and families with the greatest need.
Your help is desperately needed in opposing these cuts and protecting deserving children and families in our community. Please help to save these programs by:
- E-mailing the Mayor and City Council members:
Mayor Phil Gordon, phil.gordon@phoenix.gov
Councilmember Thelda Williams, council.district.1@phoenix.gov, District 1
Councilmember Peggy Neely, peggy.neely@phoenix.gov, District 2
Councilmember Bill Gates, council.district.3@phoenix.gov, District 3
Councilmember Tom Simplot, council.district.4@phoenix.gov, District 4
Councilmember Claude Mattox, council.district.5@phoenix.gov, District 5
Councilmember Sal DiCiccio, council.district.6@phoenix.gov, District 6
Councilmember Michael Nowakowski, council.district.7@phoenix.gov, District 7
Councilmember Michael Johnson, michael.johnson@phoenix.gov, District 8
- Writing letters to the editor of The Arizona Republic expressing your opposition. Write your letter online at , or by mail to:
Letters to the Editor
The Arizona Republic
P.O. Box 2244
Phoenix, AZ 85002