A light at the end of the tunnel this morning for parents in Bridgeport fearing a free summer program for kids would be discontinued.

City leaders say the Lighthouse program will continue as planned this summer. 

The Board of Education voted to charge the Lighthouse program $500,000 to use its buildings, starting July 1.

Lighthouse says it couldn't afford the fee and parents asked school board members to drop it.

The city's director of youth services says the fee will stay in place, but Lighthouse agreed not to eliminate the summer program on such short notice.

She says she believes there's room for negotiation about the future of other programs. 

City officials say they hope to discuss the issue with the Board of Education within the next month.