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Manoa School A+ program
short on staff

Question: What is the policy of the A+ program at Manoa School in regards to accepting students? This is the third week of school, and they still have not taken all the A+ students who have signed up. We still have not heard when my grandson can participate.

Answer: There were about 15 students on the waiting list for the After School (A+) Program, but that should be whittled down by about a third this week, Troy Doike, the A+ site coordinator for Manoa School, said Thursday.

Doike was expecting to have six openings this week for kindergartners and first-graders.

The problem is that "we are short-staffed," he said.

There are only eight to nine employees, and "not everyone comes every day, unfortunately, so that throws our ratio off."

Under state A+ Program guidelines, the ratio of students to supervisors should be about 20-to-1. About 180 children are now participating in the Manoa School A+ program.

Doike is looking for workers, but until he can hire more, he says he won't compromise the safety of the children.

He recently had two more people apply, but that was countered by one person giving two weeks' notice.

"The best interests of the kids -- their safety and well-being -- is our main concern," Doike said. "I would hate to have any child get hurt and be sent home with the wrong person because we did not have the proper supervision. My concern and the school's concern is the safety and well-being of each child."

Doike said this is the first year the program has started short-staffed.

Anyone interested in working for the Manoa A+ program can call 988-1867 or 988-1868.

Doike says he's looking for high school graduates, but at this point, as long as an applicant is "responsible and compassionate," no experience is necessary.

The job requires 17 hours a week, from 2:15 to 5:30 p.m. weekdays except Wednesday, when the hours are 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. The pay is $7.25 an hour.

According to the state Department of Education, if enrollment in A+ at a particular school is restricted because of staff shortages, students may enroll in A+ programs at other schools if space is available; the principal of the receiving school and the A+ site coordinator approve; and parents assume responsibility for their child's transportation to the alternative site.

For more information, check doe.k12.hi.usprogramsaplus.htm.

Auwe

To Oahu Transit Services. I don't understand the statement ("Kokua Line," Aug. 29) that bus ridership on Route 62 has gone up due to their on-time performance. If they reduced the number of cycles by 1 1/2 as stated, would not that alone increase ridership? They should just state they need to cut back expenses due to poor management and not try to convince the public they are improving service. -- A. Noguchi

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