District Eyes Outside Help for Elementary After-school Program

The Fort Lee School District is considering changes to its after-school programs that could include some outside collaboration.

The district is expected to hear a presentation from the YMCA “in the coming weeks” according to a report on northjersey.com.

"Our primary responsibility and most of our energy goes into our general education programs and our expertise lies in that area," Acting Superintendent Sharon Amato told northjersey.com. 

She continued, saying that for organizations like the YMCA, “activities-based programs are their only focus.”

The administrative duties for the borough — including payroll, hiring, and more — would also likely be eased through the outsourcing, Amato told the website. Currently the Fort Lee School District shoulders the entire burden.

The district’s current latchkey staff would be rushed to the front of the YMCA’s hiring process and trained further, should they get the job, Amato said.

The report contends that while participation costs for students would remain flat, the YMCA would “provide scholarships for financially struggling families, Amato said, which the district does not currently offer.

The report didn't detail the current costs of the after school programs for the district, nor predict future costs should the YMCA take over.