A pilot after-school child-care program will start in the fall at elementary schools in Hanover Park and Roselle, providing parents with a cheaper and more convenient child-care alternative, officials said.
Keeneyville Elementary School District 20 last week agreed unanimously to cosponsor the program with the Hanover Park and Roselle Park Districts. It will provide after-school care for District 20 pupils at Waterbury School from 3:30 to 6 p.m. weekdays and at the Greenbrook School from 3 to 6 p.m.
Dan Schimmel, the Hanover Park superintendent of recreation, said the program will be cheaper than most after-school alternatives because it does not require children to be driven to another location.
Schimmel said the program, known as the School, Park and Recreation Enrichment Program, will cost an average of $1.83 an hour at Waterbury and $1.65 an hour at Greenbrook for each child.
Children from 1st through 5th grades who are enrolled in one of District 20`s schools and live in their respective park district boundaries would be eligible to participate.
A minimum registration of 20 pupils for each school will be required to begin the program. The maximum enrollment at Greenbrook is 35 pupils, and the maximum at Waterbury is 28 pupils, because of space restrictions.
The pilot program registration procedure will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The park districts will share in supervising and evaluating the personnel hired for each location. A program coordinator will be retained to directly supervise the two staffs on behalf of the park districts.
The program, said park district officials, will try to maintain a ratio of one staff member to 10 pupils.
Registration will be accepted at the Roselle Park District for Waterbury pupils and at the Hanover Park District for Greenbrook pupils.
A $50 non-refundable deposit made by July 15 will hold a space in the program for a child. It will be deducted from the monthly payment.
Schimmel said a lottery system may have to be implemented if demand exceeds expectations. The program could also be expanded if more space becomes available.
Board members agreed to review the progress of the pilot program next February or March to determine if it should be continued.
