Students in the Evesham Township school district's Child Care Program will switch to services offered by nonprofit organization Archway Just Kids starting December 1, the district superintendent announced Thursday at the Board of Education meeting.
Evesham Child Care, or ECC, is often provided to district students with individualized education plans, according to comments at the board meeting.
Some characteristics of the students that Archway Just Kids accepts include, but are not limited to, those with development disorders that would require therapeutic goals, according to a statement from Archway Just Kids that Superintendent Justin Smith read at the board meeting.
"I would like to reiterate that the decision to transition ECC to Archway Just Kids was made for financial reasons as an alternative to cutting the program altogether," Smith told those at the board meeting.
Smith added that Archway Just Kids has hired ECC staff members and has begun registering ECC students.
One parent who said his son and daughter are two of the students in ECC expressed disappointment in the district's decision.
"It is just not feasible (for families with) two working full-time parents during the school year to do this," he told board members. "It is not right; it is harmful, and it is not why we moved to this community."
Neither Smith nor the school board spoke to his concerns.
Tuition-Free Kindergarten Plan Moves Ahead
The district has started hiring teachers and completing information packets for parents whose children are eligible for tuition-free, full-day kindergarten, Smith said.Â
Evesham voters in the November 7 general election approved a ballot question authorizing the district to offer free all-day kindergarten by a vote of 6,952 (56%) to 5,486 (44%).
"These classes will start up in January, or potentially in February, depending on… certain variables, like we hire teachers who are in school districts elsewhere and have to give 60 days' notice to their contract," Smith said.
The other ballot question — approved 8,125 (65%) to 4,291 (35%) — allows the district to pay for expanded mental health options in the district.
An Evesham homeowner whose home is assessed at a district average of $272,628 would see an increase in the annual property tax bill of $97.87 to cover the costs of free kindergarten. The mental health services would add $9.79 annually for the same homeowner, according to Township estimates.
Smith also presented certificates to the community members who he said helped raise awareness of the district's two ballot questions.
