4 local AmeriCorps programs receive funding

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New announcements from the Corporation for National and Community Service are providing funding for some local AmeriCorps programs while leaving others empty handed.|ret||ret||tab|

AmeriCorps programs in Republic, Purdy, Nixa and Seneca will receive a total of $428,000 in funding while programs in Springfield, Bolivar and Neosho will receive no funding. |ret||ret||tab|

With these cuts, the number of AmeriCorps members serving and tutoring in the Ozarks will be cut in half. |ret||ret||tab|

Funding information was released by the corporation July 11. Second-round allotments provided Missouri with slightly more than $1 million in funding, $700,000 less than last year's allotment of $1.7 million. |ret||ret||tab|

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Program funding |ret||ret||tab|

The Republic School District AmeriCorps program was offered 12 full-time positions but only accepted six. Republic Schools Superintendent Pam Hedgepath said the district offered to take only six positions in an effort to help other programs that would not receive funding. The program will receive $75,000 from the state with the school district providing $11,000. |ret||ret||tab|

The Purdy School District program will receive full funding of $150,000 for 11 1/2 positions. |ret||ret||tab|

Nixa will receive $128,000 for 10 positions, two fewer than originally requested. Seneca will receive $75,000 for six AmeriCorps positions. Remaining funds will help 52 other AmeriCorps positions across the state.|ret||ret||tab|

Programs in Springfield, Bolivar and Neosho will not receive funding because of the commission scoring system, which ranks each program on its type and its success rate. A group of commission leaders and peers rank each program then allot funds to the top ranking programs receiving funds first. |ret||ret||tab|

The news for Caring Corps of Springfield, the local AmeriCorps program, came as a disappointment for the United Way of the Ozarks, which funds the program through Community Partnership of the Ozarks. Kris Presley, program director for Caring Corps of Springfield, said that despite the lack of funding the program will continue this year on a smaller scale.|ret||ret||tab|

Carol Krenning, community development specialist with the Missouri Community Service Commission, said there is still a possibility that Springfield could receive funding if a $100 million supplemental appropriations bill is approved by Congress.|ret||ret||tab|

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Reading skills |ret||ret||tab|

AmeriCorps' key purpose is community service, including reading and tutoring programs for elementary students. |ret||ret||tab|

With this assistance many students are brought up from the "at risk" level at an early age, making success in junior high, high school graduation and successful entry to the work force a greater possibility.|ret||ret||tab|

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education states that Missouri had a 3.8 percent high school dropout rate in 2002, and many graduates lack the basic skills that a diploma implies. |ret||ret||tab|

According to the International Literacy Survey, 13 percent of people do not read at all or read below the fourth-grade level; and according to the English Language Proficiency study, 47.5 percent of the nation's people are functionally illiterate reading below the eighth-grade level. The problem with literacy is one that carries over into the business world as people search for jobs.|ret||ret||tab|

"One of the highest reasons that people seek help with literacy is so they can get a better job. They just are stuck at a dead end job and they have to be able to read the manuals or read the instructions to be able to go on from there," said Katherine Sobey, program director for the Ozarks Literacy Council.|ret||ret||tab|

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Providing for education|ret||ret||tab|

Not only does AmeriCorps help provide literacy tutoring for young students and community members, but the program provides a way for members to improve their employment opportunities through education funds. At the end of the 10th month of service, members receive and education grant of $4,725. |ret||ret||tab|

"In addition to the service that is provides to meet the unmet needs of the community, it provides for the AmeriCorps members themselves," Krenning said. "Most of these people are from the community and without the program probably wouldn't have (gone) on to college for financial reasons."|ret||ret||tab|

Cindy Crabtree, Republic Elementary principal and former AmeriCorps director, said she saw people come into the program as volunteers without a high school diploma, but by the end of their term they had completed their general equivalency diploma and were on their way through college.|ret||ret||tab|

In Greene County, approximately 21 percent of the population, or 50,000 people do not have a high school diploma. |ret||ret||tab|

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