Lack of funds put Pierce youth challenge on hold

The National Guard sponsored Youth Challenge program at Pierce has been put on hold due to lack of funding.

The school was intended to go into the vacated Pierce Elementary School which is owned by the School District.

The program would have employed about 50 persons and could serve 100 youth at a time in two 22-courses per year.

A public affairs officer for the National Guard reports the program will not be opening anytime soon but remains a priority for Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and the Guard.

The program is funded three-quarters by the federal government and one-fourth by the state. The program is designed for at-risk youth between 16 and 18 to help them get back on track with their education.

In the case of Idaho the Guard had been given the authorization to start the school but no funding according to a Guard public affairs officer.

The initial cost would be $4 million with $1 million from state sources.

Gov. Otter tried to seek private donations after the Idaho legislature indicated last year it would not put money toward the program. But so far that has not worked out according to the Guard spokesperson.

The program would have employed about 50 persons and could serve 100 youths at a time in two 22-courses per year.