Is anyone else confused by Dr. Pinkard's statement at Monday's board meeting: "Do we need to think about closing, um hate to say it, a school in every feeder pattern"?
While the school board tries to duct tape together a Frankenstein of cuts to squeak by for another year, we need to be vigilant of what they're doing and the long term impacts. They talked about SACC vs RAS (Right at School) at the last meeting. There was some discussion from the board that the district nets about 90k from RAS, but we bear all of the operating costs of the facilities. They also said RAS is not sharing enrollment numbers.
We can see what happens when we have a limited selection of private companies (bussing for example). Why would we give up our unionized, in house SACC, which accommodates all students, including those with special needs in a way that RAS does not? SACC costs are borne by our district, but we also control the services and fee structure. One of the proposed revenue levers in the SDRP presentations last fall included 100k in additional fees for before/after care. Could the board look at a sliding scale increase for those over a certain income?
If SACC is cut, what is to stop RAS from raising rates, reducing services or reducing payments to D65?
Many families depend on reliable and affordable childcare before or after school AT school. We saw with recent removal of SACC for half days that the district suggested parents check out the Y or other resources. Options that burden caregivers with even more logistics. While I'm lucky enough to pick my kids up after school, they're actually jealous of their friends who stay after in SACC because of how much they enjoy it. Our kids and families deserve that type of programming, protected from the whims and business interests of privatization.