Politics & Government
Public/Private Funds, Social Workers Help Area Students
Youths experiences the effects of economic hardship can tap into a variety of support systems at local elementary and high schools.
Students adversely affected by the stagnant economy are not left out in the cold when they try to leave their miseries behind by attending school.
Internally, schools have complements of guidance counselors and social workers to deal with the economic problems. Also, as is the case in other suburban schools, private funds supplement the state-supported subsidies of meals and student fees.
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Brian Voehringer, assistant superintendent in charge of student services for District 62, said families and staff have donated to the Paul Young Fund since he retired.
“It’s always used for kids who can’t afford field trips and other activities,” Voehringer said.
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North School has its own specific fund, he added.
Des Plaines District 62 has a number of parent-outreach social workers to connect economically ravaged families to social service agencies. District 62 has 15 social workers at the 11 schools in the district.
East Maine District 63’s seven schools employ seven counselors and social workers, their time dependent upon the size and needs of the school, said Lynn Glickman, district spokesman. That number was reduced from last year.
“We considered our staffing ratios in social work and compared those ratios to the ratio that is recommended by the State for social work services,” Glickman said. “We made adjustments accordingly.”
In District 207, each of the three high schools has one college and career counselor. Maine West has eight generalist counselors, three social workers and one psychologist.
Maine East High School has six full-time and one part-time generalist counselors, three social workers and one psychologist. Maine South employs nine generalist counselors, two social workers and two psychologists.
Youths lacking funds for basic activities due to economic hardship are subsidized by law. They qualify for free lunches if annual income for a family of four is S29,055 or less, mandated by federal standards. Students can obtain reduced-cost lunches if the income level for the same standard is $41,348 or less. Income-levels are adjusted by the size of the family.
Many area schools also serve breakfast, as some children often arrive at class hungry.
