The Community Corrections board on Tuesday allotted funds for the coming fiscal year to four agencies that work with youths in the Fifth Judicial District.
Director Robert Sullivan said this morning that the agencies had asked for a total of only $5,100 more than was available in the Community Corrections budget, which helped simplify the decision-making process.
“It was much easier to do the awards this year,” Sullivan said, recalling last year’s longer list of applicants and their requests that considerably exceeded money available.
This year, the board allocated a total of $86,414 to: Big Brothers Big Sisters, $28,959; Chase County Mentors, $15,264; Family Solutions of the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas, $39,041; and the MORE program in the Olpe school system, $3,150.
The board added the MORE project to its list of allocations after a presentation and question-and-answer session from Carolyn Davis, representing MORE.
Sullivan said that MORE, an after-school project, offered a deviation from traditional programs.
Approximately 50 children from elementary and junior high classes are expected to be served. Students from Olpe High School will act as mentors to the younger students who attend the program.
MORE will be active only during the school year, he said.
The board also heard a report from Sullivan about the comprehensive strategic plan for Community Corrections, and a report about the progress made on hiring someone to create a juvenile strategic plan.
The board also discussed unexpended funds and, on Sullivan’s recommendation, decided not to purchase a vehicle for $15,000. Sullivan asked instead that the board set up a new juvenile intake center at 402 Commercial Street. The money will be used to set up new phone lines, change locks to allow access by law-enforcement officers, and other needed adaptations.
The board also agreed on a change of format for the luncheon meetings, when members bring their own sack lunches.
“We’ll start providing lunch for the board members, since we take up their lunch hour,” Sullivan said.