By Jordan Hoover
In the basement of the former Lylburn Downing Middle School, 20 children play games, receive tutoring help and wait for their parents in the afternoon. It is a lively space, one filled with chatter and laughter. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade play ping-pong and foosball, and make arts and crafts as they wind down after busy school days.
The program, available every school day, has been a constant force in the community for over thirty years. Led by Lexington Youth Services Director Tammy Dunn, it was originally funded by a state grant aimed at preventing delinquency through participation in youth services. When state funding started to go away, the city picked up the program’s cost, Dunn said.
However, next year the space will look different – and the program’s future is unclear.
After 35 years, Dunn plans to retire at the end of the school year. The city plans to terminate her position, move the after-school services elsewhere, and repurpose the programming space at 300 Diamond St., according to City Manager Tom Carroll.
“I just don’t think that’s reasonable. I don’t think we’re going to find somebody with her passion and dedication and commitment.”
“The simplest thing to do would be to try and find a replacement for Tammy,” Carroll said. “I just don’t think that’s reasonable. I don’t think we’re going to find somebody with her passion and dedication and commitment.”
Instead, he plans to relocate after-school services to Lexington City Schools or provide city scholarships for students to attend YMCA programming. The Rockbridge Area YMCA after-school program charges families almost $100 weekly.
However, plans haven’t been finalized.
“We are still in beginning conversations and gathering information to consider what next steps may fall into place,” Superintendent Rebecca Walters said in an email.
Known to her students as “Mrs. Tammy,” Dunn now teaches the children of her first students decades ago. Her retirement will not affect her role as a city school board member, she said, and she plans to continue visiting students and staying active in the school community.
“I promised my kids, they would still see me,” Dunn said. “And I will still venture to (Harrington Waddell Elementary School) on occasion, to programs and to eat lunch with them.”
The city is still exploring what to do with the after-school programming space next year, Carroll said. The basement is made up of two classrooms and several small offices.
“It’s a very valuable space because we just don’t have much community, child care, after-school programming, and educational space,” he said.
Washington and Lee University student Charles Mlcek has been volunteering at Dunn’s after-school program for three and a half years.
“I think that they should be very intentional with what they do about this space.”
“This building, in particular, is very important to the Lexington community, and particularly the Black Lexington community,” Mlcek said. “When segregation was going on in Virginia, it was a Black school. So I think that they should be very intentional with what they do about this space and that they should continue some sort of program.”
Next year’s budget for youth services is $126,000, said Carroll. He plans to use the leftover funds from programming to increase city wages for 30 of the lowest-paid employees in the city workforce and school district.
Currently, the city uses the MIT living wage calculation for a single person living in Lexington, which is $17.63 an hour. Carroll estimates that the excess budget will increase wages to $18.50 an hour.
Photo by Jordan Hoover.
Because of Dunn’s retirement, the “Summer Fun” program will also be canceled for this summer. This eight-week program provided both Lexington and Rockbridge County families with affordable summer care and fun activities for their children.
“I am hopeful the city will continue their interest in supporting the youth in our community through some type of programming,” Dunn said in her retirement email.
“I am hopeful the city will continue their interest in supporting the youth in our community through some type of programming.”