Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Courtrooms to Classrooms will continue in area schools despite the lack of support from Kosciusko County Council.
Last week council chose not to provide the funds needed because of depleted revenues from incentive monies from the federal government.
Prosecutor David Kolbe's office sought money for two positions funded with the incentive monies and council chose to fund a secretarial position in the child support office rather than the administrative assistant who oversees the new educational program.
By funding one and not the other, $8,500 from the receptionist position became available and will be shifted to the administrator's salary, Kolbe said.
"We are committed to continuing Courtrooms To Classrooms through" the remaining school year, Kolbe said.
Kolbe said about $5,500 from available grant money will also be used. Enough money is currently available to keep the position afloat for six months.
Kolbe said he and the administrator, Rob Reneker, might turn the position into establishing a not-for-profit organization - a move that would allow them to access more grants and receive private donations.
"We are looking for other sources of funds, grants and the like," Kolbe said.
The eight-week class began last semester at Madison Elementary in Warsaw and is being expanded in Warsaw Community Schools and two other school districts' fifth grade classes.
In addition to the class program, Reneker also oversees victims assistance involving property crimes.
Members of county council, while admitting the program could prove beneficial, questioned whether the prosecutor's office is the proper source for such efforts and some asked if it isn't too similar to DARE, the anti-drug education program popular in many schools.
Council president James Tranter was pleased the position will be retained. Some council members said they knew by funding one position, some money could be shifted to the other.
"The issue was not Rob Reneker or Courtrooms to Classrooms at all. The issue we were wrestling with was the amount of dollars needed to keep additionally funding the prosecutor's office.
"It's up to the prosecutor to jockey the positions or the duties, whatever, to where it's best needed," Tranter said.
"If Courtrooms to Classrooms is more important than some other program, than that's they way he has to make the decision."
Kolbe said he feels obligated to continue a program that has become popular.
Kolbe said he will also push forward with plans for a teen court, a new program tried in other parts of the country, and as near as LaPorte County, as a way to relieve juvenile courts of the heavy burden.
He said the concept has strong support from clubs, schools and police.
The program could be in place by the fall of this year, Kolbe said.
