About 30 parents whose children attend the Troy City Schools after school program will have to make other arrangements next school year.

With attendance dwindling and tight economic times, the Troy Board of Education members decided Monday to terminate the Extended Day Program at the end of this school year.

But, it wasn’t a decision that came easy for Superintendent Linda Felton-Smith.

Felton-Smith said the program has actually cost the school system some $14,000, close to 40 percent of the total revenues. That, coupled with a decline in attendance led to the board’s decision.

“With that, I have no other option than to recommend we discontinue the program,” Felton-Smith said.

The program will end officially May 28.

Also in the meeting, the board elected new officers and said goodbye to retiring school board President Ron Pierce.

Pierce, who has served on the board for 10 years, sat in his last meeting as a member Monday night.

Pierce will be replaced on the board by Wally Lowery, who was appointed to the board by the Troy City Council last month.

“I appreciate you Mr. Pierce for giving of your time,” Felton-Smith said. “This was not a paid position. Sometimes it seems like a thankless position, but I want to let you know you are appreciated.”

The board elected John Parker to serve as the new president and Roxie Kitchens as the vice president.

The school board also accepted the resignations, retirements and non-renewals of several employees.

Both the student worker for the Central Office and Dedrina McClure, who taught the math component of the manufacturing academy at the Troy Pike Center for Technology, will be non-renewed next year.

Felton-Smith said McClure’s position was no longer needed because the program she taught has been closed.

Also Charles Henderson Middle School’s Amanda Rainey and Charles Henderson High School’s Ashley Davis resigned. Chief Financial Officer Joyce Deveridge and Child Nutrition Director Edna Jordan will retire.

Other personnel issues for the year will be addressed at a special meeting May 26 at 11:30 a.m.

It doesn’t mean much in terms of spending, but the Troy City Board also voted their final budget amendment for the year. Felton-Smith said the amendment will take some state-funded teacher positions from that category and place them in the local funds.

But, she said it’s money the school system has already spent. In the amendment, members approved to take $1.4 million from the reserve funds, $1.1 of which was cut from proration this year.

Even with that money out of the reserve, Deveridge said the school system will end the budget year with about five months of extra funding saved.

The board also heard reports on summer reading programs.

Troy Elementary School Principal Geoffery Spann said a summer reading camp will be held for two weeks this summer with highly trained reading coaches.

In addition, the high school reading program, which originally required honors students to read two books in the summer, will expand to include all students.

Dorothy Peterson said students in honors programs will still read two books, but students enrolled in regular courses will read one.

“Reading is the key to everything,” Peterson said. “If they stop reading, they stop learning.”

The STARS winners for the month were Vicky Robinson and Lee Scott, second grade teachers at TES who held the King for a Day program.

The next regular board meeting will be held June 15 at 5:15 p.m.