Democratic Senate candidate worried about after-school programs amid petition

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - After-school programs may be on the chopping block with a new petition to possibly cut the funding for the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library in half.

Now, a supporter of the library who is running for office is speaking out.

Chenoa Summers said this petition will really affect the elderly, underprivileged, and maybe most importantly children across the area.

Summers, a Democrat, is challenging Republican Dan Sullivan in the Arkansas Senate District 20 race in November. Sullivan said he agreed with the petition and felt the funding was not needed.

However, Summers felt like the funding is indeed necessary for the community.

“There are after-school programs there are afterschool hangouts for kids that are still in school and taking that away could really affect them,” Summers said.

The library said if the petition passes, they will be forced to change their hours as well as cut different after-school programs and other adult programs.

Summer said a lot of kids use the library’s extended hours for tutoring and if they have to change their hours due to funding, it could hurt children in the classroom.

The petition will be on the November ballot for Craighead County residents to vote on.

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