BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Wednesday, Hillsborough County Commissioners voted 4-3 to close the after school programs at County Parks. The move leaves 64 employees without jobs and the parents of 1,800 children scrambling to find a safe environment for their children.

Commissioners Les Miller, Jr., Ken Hagan, and Victor Crist voted to spare the parks. The last day of operation is September 30th, the end of the County’s fiscal year. “This is very unfortunate that this had to happen. However, the program is no more, it’s absolute, and 64 employees have lost their jobs. I think other cuts could have been made to save the program, but we were outvoted.

Ms. Sharon Subadan, Deputy County Administrator for Public Safety and Community Services said the parks are not being closed, but the after school program is being eliminated. “The parks will still be available for different types of programs for the community.” [private]

Ms. Subadan further stated that the county is formulating an After School Transition Task Force. Its purpose is to make contact and assist all of the families impacted by the closing of the after school programs.

“We want to ensure that every family receives assistance and no family gets left out,” Ms. Subadan said.[/private]

***Look for full story in Friday’s Sentinel***