Funds sought for advisers at every city high school

The CollegeBound Foundation is asking the Baltimore school system to make room in its $1.3 billion operating budget to fund a college and career adviser at every city high school. Cassie Motz, executive director of the Baltimore-based nonprofit, which began in 1988, said the presence of such an adviser translates into more students applying for and attending college, as well as earning financial aid. Motz made her pitch to the city school board Tuesday night during a community feedback hearing on the district’s budget proposal. CollegeBound currently sends advisers into 18 high schools. They want to go to 15 more, giving them a presence in every city high school. To do that, they’re asking the district for $1.3 million a year and a four-year funding commitment. Some school board members appeared receptive. “To me, this is a no-brainer,” said school board vice chair Peter Kannam. “The idea that we have high schools without college and career advisers is unacceptable.” But others questioned how the district would afford the expense, and whether it would be fair to fund these positions out of the district’s central office. Some commissioners said they weren’t sure whether they should mandate the way principals should use their already too-scarce dollars. “It comes down to: The pie isn’t big enough to do all the things we want to do for our kids,” said school board chair Cheryl Casciani. Still, the idea has the backing of the Baltimore City Council, which passed a resolution last month calling for the expansion of CollegeBound. “Children in Baltimore often face disadvantages beyond their control, and we need to give them every opportunity and resource possible to go to and through college,” said Councilman Zeke Cohen, chairman of the council's Education and Youth Committee. The board is scheduled to vote on the budget May 8.