by Aaron Neuman. During Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, it was revealed that Lakewood students are at risk of losing their after-school programs.

As the Township repeatedly told the Board of Education, the Township is unable to provide additional funding this year due to budgetary constraints. The Board of Education is not able to receive state funding for the after school programs, so if Lakewood Township doesn’t provide funding, the programs will need to be cut. The cuts will affect both public and private school students, and multiple non-discretionary programs will need to be done away with due to the lack of funds to keep them running.

The loss of these programs may ultimately come back to bite Lakewood in the leg. While they are intended to reduce costs, the loss of these programs may have the opposite effect. This is because many of these programs allowed lagging students to attend regular schools and supplement their learning with an after school program or tutor to keep them up to speed. If these programs are ultimately cut, these students may be forced to return to special needs schools at a much higher cost to the township.

TLS spoke to the parent of a student who is enrolled in an after school program funded by Lakewood Township.

“Cutting this program would have a serious detrimental affect on my child,” said the parent. “I hope a deal could be made that would allow for my son’s program can remain in place, even if I would have to chip in a bit. It is far better than the alternative.”