School Drop-In Centers Possible In Fall-June 24, 1974

Study Committee Explains Summer Delay for Neighborhood Youth Proposals

A study committee’s recommendation to delay using two or three neighborhood schools as youth drop-in centers until fall should not be seen as an attempt to let the proposal die a quiet death, its members say. According to a report made to selectmen last week by the committee study drop-in center proposals, summer use of the schools is not feasible. However, implementation of the program in the fall remains a real possibility. Surveyed by telephone, the committee members explained their reasoning. Maureen Kenny, the town’s youth coordinator, said her major reason for advising delay was “the time element.” She said it would be unwise to rush into the program, adding that more time was needed to gain major input from young people on whether they need or want such centers. “Young people should be more involved,” said Maureen Kenny. “We want them to take more responsibility in it — to find out what they would like to do.” With the recent resignation of Benjamin Ross from the study committee, its membership is down to four: Maureen Kenny, Police Sgt. William J. Travers, Recreation Director Robert H. Ivatts, and Dr. Paul E. Jansen, youth commission chairman.

In their report to selectmen advocating waiting until the fall, members requested permission to begin surveying young people immediately to get their views on the matter. Sgt. William J. Travers said the survey would need to contain only five or six questions. He said the response from youths so far in conversations had been favorable. The report to selectmen, a copy of which was also forwarded to the school committee, noted, “Each area of town, each group of young people, has its own personality and variety of interests and funds.” It was also noted that the school buildings are not airconditioned and would be extremely warm for use by groups of young people. With custodians on duty only until 3 p.m. during the summer months, additional custodians would be needed; in the fall, the report noted, custodians are on duty until 11 p.m. in the schools.

The security of school buildings was a major concern of the school committee when it discussed the proposal for summer neighborhood drop-in centers with selectmen. Sgt. William J. Travers recently concurred, expressing concern with “controlling the perimeter” around schools in use. The persons inside a center would be adequately supervised, he added. He advised proceeding with caution “rather than go piecemeal and have it go down the drain.” To rush into it for this summer, he said, “would be a way of destroying the whole program.” Recreation Director Robert H. Ivatts emphasized the lack of air conditioning in the schools, noting the heat of the Civic Center keeps young people away during the summer months. “We can use the summer to find out from the kids what they want,” he added. “In the fall, there’s more of a need. When it gets cold and rainy, they’re looking for a place to go.”

Dr. Paul E. Jansen said he could see starting the program in the schools in the fall on a limited basis, on Friday and Saturday nights, for example. He appeared to agree with a previous decision by selectmen to turn down a central facility for youths from all over town. An earlier drop-in center committee had proposed using the old fire station on Nahatan Street for such a center, but anticipation of problems in the centralized facility and the estimated cost of building renovation were cited by selectmen in their decision to turn that plan down in April. Dr. Paul E. Jansen said he had observed that the most effective drop-in centers had been neighborhood ones in the city. He added that, if the centers are established on a trial basis and prove successful, they could be in operation next year during the summer. In asking selectmen’s approval to research the plan further, the study committee stated, “While we will be thorough, we wish to emphasize that we have no desire to procrastinate in completing this research.” Selectmen took no action on the report Tuesday, voting only to inform the school committee of the report’s recommendations.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger