Enrollment in the after-school PLACE program at Pasco County's Sunray Elementary School has dropped below the break-even point, losing more than $210,000 since 2005.

With money tight and no prospect for a turnaround, the district staff has recommended closing the program at Sunray. The families still needing after-school care from the district could send their children to PLACE at Gulf Trace Elementary, about 2 miles west, with busing provided. The staff, meanwhile, would be transferred to other PLACE sites that have open jobs and adequate enrollment. 

The district is not recommending any increases in the fees that parents pay for PLACE, though. The School Board is being asked to maintain the current fees of $40 per child during the school year, and $55 for the summer, when it meets Tuesday.