Enrichment program facing tough year

After losing its site then finding another, a popular summer enrichment program for kids is facing cuts because of low enrollment.

The Mini Enrichment Program offered programs for school-age children from 1985 to 2003 at Lincoln Elementary. This year, Lincoln Elementary is hosting a summer enrichment program sponsored by Glendale Community College. Director Evelyn Callister said she thought MEP's days were over.

Then she started getting calls for parents hoping to sign their kids up for MEP's programs, including cheerleading, math fun, art, and performance. Callister found another nearby school-Mountain View Elementary in Tujunga-to host the program. She said the fact that notices about the program went out late, and perhaps the change of location, may have caused enrollment in the program to go down significantly this year. Some classes even face cancellation.

MEP took registration through June 30, and late registration is being accepted on the first day of class if space is available. The schedule begins July 8 and ends July 29. Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; each class is 45 minutes long. Students can take up to four different subjects at $35 per student per class. Enrollment is open to children who were in kindergarten through fifth grade during the 2003-04 school year. Parents interested in the program can contact Callister at 248-3311 or e-mail callistere@aol.com.