Enrollments in local school-based after-school programs are dropping some, maybe because of the economy, possibly because of competition, but the directors say they are still doing well providing a service that is crucial to many families.

With the opening of two new after-school programs in two years, and local families struggling through the recession, the enrollments at the school-based programs are suffering. Carrollton Junior High discontinued its after-school program this year after enrollments dropped so much last school year that it was no longer self-sustaining. The system has two remaining programs, Up and Growing for Prekindergarten through third grade and Trojan Den for grades four and five.

“Our enrollment is down, but we’re doing real good,” said Mary Lou Grimmett, director of after-school programs for Carrollton City Schools. “Our school system offers a program that you know meets the community’s needs for part-time and drop-in care.”

The program has enrolled 280 students this year, down from about 350 last year. However, that number is fairly fluid as people move in and out of the programs. Parents are still registering children in the program now, just yesterday another eight students enrolled, Grimmett said.

Central Elementary School has also lost students this year, dropping from about 130 last year to about 80 to 100 this year, Principal Tony Childers said. He was expecting a decrease but wasn’t expecting it to be so large.

“That’s probably due to job market issues,” Childers said. “Parents may have lost their jobs and are now at home. Some parents may have been forced into reducing their expenses and have family members caring for their children after school now. Things like that.”

The Carroll County Parks and Recreation Department opened a before- and after-school program this year that may have affected the numbers some, but that program is pulling from a number of different schools, Central Middle, Whitesburg Elementary and Roopville Elementary as well as Central Elementary. The new program’s enrollment is only 60, not near the number of students lost in the other two programs. The program has three buses it uses to pick the students up after school.

“We’d love to have more,” said Jennifer Earnest, administrative assistant for the department.

Earnest doesn’t think the Recreation Department is pulling students from existing programs.

“Most of the kids that we have participate in our sports here at our park,” Earnest said. “We offer transportation to practices at 6 o’ clock. The parent who are pushed to get here for practices for kids – pick them up, get them changed and get them over for practice at 6 p.m. – they don’t have to worry about that.”

The Recreation Department also offers before-school care, but that program isn’t nearly as popular as the after care, she said.

Central Elementary is in the process of planning a before-school program at the request of parents who have to leave for work early, Childers said. He hopes that will help keep students in the program who need the additional care.

All the programs offer snacks, homework time and play time for students.

“When we started doing the homework time, we got the instant feedback from the parents about how much help that gave them when they got home,” Childers said. “Used to, they had to cook supper, give baths and do homework and that really helped out with their load at home.”

The advantage at Central is teachers are working at the after-care program and they can give the students, who they already know, one-on-one help. It also gives the students access to computers, which they might not have at home. The staff at the Carrollton programs are college students and some retired teachers or adults. The Recreation Department hires tutors to work at its program.

The Recreation Department separates students into small groups and gives students lessons in football, basketball, baseball, softball and soccer. The students can pick the sport they’re interested in learning. The students also participate in fine arts such as public speaking, music, drama and crafts.

The school-based programs offer outdoor play and indoor play. The students at Carrollton can choose an organized sport, arts and crafts or free play after homework time. They also can get some help on their social skills if they need it.

The Central students are offered free play indoors and outdoors. They also do some arts and crafts from time to time and during bad weather.

Holly Jenkins, co-director of the Central Elementary program for the past eight years, said the after-school care at the school provides students with a safe environment along with tutoring for those students who need it. It also gives the students extra time for socialization.

“The children enjoy being with the others,” Jenkins said. “When the parents come to pick them up, they’re like ‘Oh, no.’ Because they’re not finished.”

Although when she was first asked to work in the program she had reservations about working such a long day, she loves working in the program.

“You just really have a bond not only with the children but with the families as well,” Jenkins said. “You get to know the families, really, more personally. Most of the children that we have that start with us in pre-K stay with us their entire schooling here and you make a real close relationship with those children.”

Central’s program had some difficulties last year and this year is trying to cut personnel costs to keep the program viable, Childers said. It’s difficult but necessary to keep the program self-sufficient.

Carrollton had to raise the rates this year for the same reason. The service is essential for many families and keeping it viable is important.

“It’s really helped parents, because parents work and many of them work until 5 p.m. and after,” Jenkins said. “They feel very confident and very comfortable that their children are in a safe place.”