Baldwin-Whitehall school board's last meeting left several students from the high school's Student Success Center questioning the fate of popular social worker Sarah Dunn.

The Student Success Center at Baldwin High School is funded through the Refugee Children School Impact Assistance Grant, which gives the district about $60,000 a year to offer programs for refugees.

Dunn operates the center, and students meet during lunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

School districts use grant funds to provide paraprofessional support to elementary refugee students, and staff the Student Success Center with a member of the high school's faculty.

An alternative, Superintendent Lawrence Korchnak said, would be to retain Dunn at the center and add the cost of two paraprofessionals to the budget.

Korchnak said his recommendation would shift grant funding from the high school to the elementary schools. Younger students struggle more with language and cultural barriers, Korchnak said.

"We have had incidents in the elementary schools with very difficult transitions, which manifest itself in behavioral problems," Korchnak said. "We wanted to get support for kids at that level who are having the most difficult time, who can't talk or speak in the language.

"Service to our refugee population will not diminish."

Assistant superintendent of secondary education John Wilkinson said there are about 130 refugee students in the district, with 40 students in the high school and 90 in the elementary schools.

"In the past, the high school has had the greatest need for refugee students, but now we see more elementary schools with a greater need," Wilkinson said. "If a student is a little bit older, it's easier to adapt, but in the lower levels, it's tougher."

Though Korchnak said the program is not going anywhere, students are concerned about how changes will affect Dunn. Senior Anna Hale said Dunn and the center have shaped her as a person.

"It's a perfect chance for students to come together and learn from each other," Hale said. "Not only do we get introduced to other cultures, but help each other. It goes beyond grades. It changes lives."

Dunn's influence on the center is immeasurable, Hale said.

Senior Patricia Ward said Dunn touches on academic and social concerns usually left unaddressed through peer mentoring.

"Peers might be more understanding of situations," Ward said. "Having students there, in addition to having Miss Dunn there for adult support really makes this program unique. If it's modified, the district will lose it."

Senior Constance Mulbah came to the district from Nigeria. She said Dunn helped her adjust to the different culture, while focusing on academics and helping her apply for college.

"Having Miss Dunn by my side made has helped me so much as a person," Mulbah said. "I thought I never would be able to make it through school, but she put my needs before hers."

Dunn declined to comment.

Korchnak said he was unsure of Dunn's fate. But the elementary school students need more help.

"There is no intent to do anything but refocus resources to where they are most needed," Korchnak said. "I understand (Dunn) is a good person and did a good job, but the question is where are the needs of the district? We need work in the transitional phases."