Dwindling number of teen parents behind Great Expectations closure

On the outside, she looks just like any other teenager attending Newberg High School. She’s young and dark blond, wearing an oversized t-shirt, black cotton pants and tennis shoes. But there’s something about her that makes her distinctly different from the other students; something that has forced her into the world of adults.

That something is a baby.

So starts a story that appeared in the Newberg Graphic in 1990. The young woman was described as “in luck” because Newberg High School had just opened a new program aimed at helping young parents deal with the problems of parenthood and earn their high school diploma. Great Expectations opened to serve eight babies, eight teen mothers and five pregnant students with a staff of two.

Today the program serves two babies and three teen parents. It is an award winning, exemplary child development center. The staff of six primarily provides childcare to staff and community members. The need has clearly changed.

The Newberg School District is making tough choices to reduce its budget by $1.3 million to meet state revenue reductions for K-12 education. Additional state funding for pregnant and parenting teens has dwindled due to the reduced number of students enrolled in the program. As a result, the school district has subsidized approximately 70 percent of the Great Expectations program costs.

Newberg School District Superintendent Kym LeBlanc-Esparza announced today that the program will close its doors on June 30th.

“Newberg schools must focus its resources on educating K-12 students,” said LeBlanc-Esparza. “The Great Expectations Program has made a significant impact on helping at-risk students complete their high school education. We will still serve pregnant and parenting teens, but we do not expect to reopen the Great Expectations program.”

Staff members and clients were informed of the program closure last Friday. As members of the Oregon School Employees Association, staff members who have been laid off have rights to upcoming open positions in the school district.