Service organization awaits funding decision

Idaho's major AmeriCorps program has scaled back its staff in response to a funding gap this semester that members hope to refill soon after the coffer runs out later this month.

The Lewis-Clark Service Corps has operated the past 19 years largely through funding by the Corporation for National and Community Service, but this year's rejection of a $1.4 million grant meant cutting staff from 120 AmeriCorps members down to 23.

"We did receive our small AmeriCorps grant, which provides us enough funding for 23 AmeriCorps members in the state," said Charlette Kremer, director for the L-C Service Corps, adding 14 of those are part-time. "That's quite fewer than we've had before, but at least we're still operating."

Kremer said she is hopeful the CNCS will provide $1.1 million in supplemental funding, on top of the $222,000 the corps received this year, through a formula grant. That money also comes from the CNCS and is administered by Serve Idaho, the governor's commission on service and volunteering.

"The corporation is playing it pretty close to the vest," she said. "All they're saying is we'll have decisions in mid-September."

Remaining AmeriCorps members have been told to expect a two-week layoff when the L-C Service Corps runs out of funds on Sept. 21, which may be permanent if funding doesn't come through.

The service corps acts as an outreach program, providing mentoring and tutoring in selected Idaho K-12 schools and universities.

AmeriCorps teams had been placed as far north as Bonners Ferry and as far south as Idaho Falls, but the reduction in staff meant shifting the service corps' focus to K-12 schools.

In Moscow, Palouse Prairie and Moscow Charter schools were each assigned one part-time member, Kremer said, with the understanding potential funding could change circumstances.

She said an independent evaluation conducted at Boise State University shows K-3 students who have been tutored by AmeriCorps members showed increased Idaho Reading Indicator scores in all four years of collected data.

"Hopefully it will make it up the chain, and it will show we're doing what we say we'll do and it's been effective," Kremer said, adding the service corps has been around since AmeriCorps began 20 years ago. "We're very proud of that fact that after 20 years, we're still here and plugging along and helping out the students of Idaho."

Smaller UI presence

Funding was not available to place AmeriCorps members at the University of Idaho this semester. In the past, they worked in the athletic department, office of multicultural affairs, career center, student housing office and also assisted autistic students adapt to college life through the Raven Scholars program.

Elizabeth Miles, manager for the five-year pilot project that began in 2011, said her staff has been cut in half with the absence of AmeriCorps. If she's out of the office, she said, students may not be able to find assistance readily available.

"Effectively, with (the other employee's) position gone, there is only one person running the program," Miles said. "I do have some skilled mentors, but no one in the office full-time. It has been very challenging."

The program, funded by a donation from Tom Alberg and Judi Beck of the Raven Foundation, started out with four students its first year and now has 13.

"So, that's a huge increase in two years, which shows you what the need is," Miles said, adding there is no money in the program for training or hiring additional staff. "It's kind of unique training to develop those supports."

Brandon Macz can be reached at (208) 883-4631, or by email to bmacz@dnews.com.