Taman Siswa

Town directors will meet next week to mull over the details of a Republican-backed educational scholarship program, including whether the board should get involved in such philanthropic giving.

The Manchester LIFE scholarship would provide a onetime gift of $15,000 to the Manchester Scholarship Foundation so adult residents who fit certain income guidelines can continue their education.

Republican Director Matthew B. Peak, who conceived of the scholarship as an alternative to the living-wage ordinance passed this spring, said during a board meeting Oct. 19 that such a program still is merited.

With two-thirds of the town’s budget spent on the education of local youths, Peak said, a portion should be devoted to adult residents who are looking to better their careers.
James Tatro, who heads the scholarship foundation, said the organization started its adult learners scholarship two years ago for residents older than 21 who have lived in Manchester for at least six months.

Recipients must meet income guidelines and report their grades to the foundation, he said. To date, none of the 10 recipients have received lower than a B-minus, and two have achieved an A-minus or better.

The scholarship is for $500 and can be given up to three times during the adult’s schooling. It can be spent on tuition or books.

“This is a modest proposal,” Peak said of the $15,000 the town would donate from its undesignated fund balance.

But Democratic Director Kevin L. Zingler said during the meeting he was concerned about the future of the scholarship and whether the town’s gift would be enough to sustain it: “I want to make sure this is a longstanding program.”

He also questioned why Peak scaled back the contribution from $50,000, as he originally proposed, to $15,000.

Directors agreed to send the proposal back to a subcommittee, which Zingler heads, for further review. Republicans, however, opposed this move, saying the idea has been on the table for six months and deserves to be acted on.

“If we get it started I tend to think if it’s a big success this town will want to fund it year after year,” Republican Minority Leader Louis A. Spadaccini said during the meeting. “This seems like an easy one to get an 8-0 vote tonight.”

But, Democrats said they wanted time to review a packet of information they received at the start of the meeting and wanted the subcommittee to provide a recommendation.
Zingler said this week that he expects the subcommittee to meet Wednesday to hash out the proposal.

He said some directors have expressed concern about the board handing out money directly to nonprofit groups and setting precedent with the scholarship contribution.

The town’s Human Services Department makes annual contributions to more than a dozen nonprofit groups. The scholarship contribution may be better doled out in this way, they suggested.

©Journal Inquirer 2006