PORT ANGELES — Parents of 20 to 30 children are looking for another after-school program now that the city of Port Angeles has shut its offering down.
The city closed its program Friday after it instituted a hiring freeze because of an unexpected budget deficit.
Between 20 and 30 children, from 5 to 12 years old, were registered, said Corey Delikat, director of the Port Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation.
Parents were notified Friday of the cancelation of the Recreation Department’s After School Program, Rec X’Press Day Camp and the upcoming spring break day camps, Delikat said.
The winter day camps were canceled because of a lack of registrations, but the after-school program had been scheduled to resume Jan. 5.
In early December, the Port Angeles City Council approved cuts to make up a $850,000 deficit in the city’s general fund to leave the program intact.
But on Dec. 8, Nippon Paper Industries USA, which is on Ediz Hook, announced that it would shut down one of its two paper machines — laying off up to 28 workers and reducing utility tax revenues collected by the city by an estimated $360,000.
Delikat said City Manager Dan McKeen has frozen hiring for all positions funded through the general fund until the council resets budgeting priorities for all city programs and projects.
He said two full-time employees left the program Friday. Six part-time high school employees also will be let go, he said.
Delikat said the programs will remain suspended until after the budget priorities have been set by the City Council. New employees might be hired then.
Delikat said there is no date for its reopening.
“It will be a process that will take a few months,” he said.
The Port Angeles unit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula, which is at 2620 S. Francis St., has room to absorb the children, said Mary Budke, executive director.
Budke said the club is about to open a middle school and high school annex and has spaces for the elementary age children in the main club area.
“We will have room available,” she said.
She invited parents to bring their children to the club for five days for a free trial.
The cost is $30 per year for membership. Before-school and other programs have additional fees.
The Clallam County YMCA’s After the Bell Program also has space for additional children.
Space is limited, so interested parents should call as soon as possible, officials said.
For more information on the YMCA program, phone Lee Routledge at 360-452-9244, ext. 303.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
