BOULDER — The Jefferson County Commission gave an initial nod Tuesday for the Boulder 21st Century Community Learning Center to prepare a 12-mill levy request for the November ballot.

Mary Ellen Earnhardt, director of the popular after-school enrichment program, told the commissioners that the Boulder School District is at the maximum school levy allowed by state law and cannot request a school district levy.

The 21st CCLC would also like to offer adult education and expand to other communities, she said.

Community members from Whitehall have expressed interest in developing a similar program.

Earnhardt told the commission she would meet soon with school superintendents and school board members from Cardwell, Whitehall, Basin, Jefferson City, Clancy and Montana City to determine their interest in and support of the ballot measure.

The proposed permanent levy would raise $268,687 annually to fund a director, staff for both the school year and summer programs, supplies, professional development, travel and expenses.

Two county commissioners said they thought funding the program was a school district issue.

“I’d have a hard time supporting something like this,” said Commissioner Chuck Notbohm.

Between 70 to 75 percent of local property tax bills are for schools, he said.

“I feel a lot like Chuck,” said Commissioner Tom Lythgoe. “I see it as a school issue.

“I hate to ask people for more money.”

However, he added, “it’s really their choice, if you put it on the ballot with all the information. It’s not being forced on anybody.”

Commission Chairman Ken Weber advised Earnhardt to meet with the county attorney and clerk and recorder to draft ballot language and finalize the mill amount.

He estimated the annual tax impact of the levy would be roughly $24 for a home valued at $100,000 and $48 for a $200,000 home.

Earnhardt said the programs would offer enrichment activities for children in their own communities and educate them in rapidly changing technologies.

The programs would also offer adult education, helping to retrain workers and put them back into the workforce, said Earnhardt.

The Boulder program has already offered some adult classes in technology, quilting and parenting, but the choices would be expanded.

One suggestion has been to offer GED classes, she said.

Earnhardt’s after-school and summer program has been widely praised by parents, community members, local school officials and state educators for its diverse educational and community enrichment activities.

It’s offered elementary grade children such classes as art, dance, keyboard, quilt making, gardening, skiing, snowshoeing, robotics, and video and movie production.

Students have organized historic tours of the county, produced Power Point presentations on local businesses and competed in Academic Olympics and Battle of the Books.

The program also offers morning and after-school help with homework.

Last year, statistics indicated that nearly 90 percent of the student body had participated in the program during the previous 30 days.

The Boulder program received full federal funding for its first five years.

It now qualifies for only 60 percent funding, or $63,000, which it received for the coming year.

The county also awarded the program a $15,000 metal mines grant to fund this summer’s program.

Earnhardt and the Horizons’ Education Committee are seeking a variety of funding sources to sustain the program into the future, she said.

Reporter Marga Lincoln: 447-4074 or marga.lincoln@helenair.com