Dear Board Mrs. Antonella Lind and Members of the Board,
I am writing on behalf of many families in our district to formally request that the Board of Education consider establishing a district-run aftercare program for our elementary schools.
Currently, there is a significant shortage of after-school care options in our community. The existing programs have long waitlists, leaving numerous families without access to this essential service. With school dismissal at 2:00 p.m., it is simply not feasible for most working parents to coordinate pickups without either drastically reducing their work hours or arranging costly alternative care. This is especially challenging given that there are no other after-school programs available within the district.
The absence of sufficient aftercare options places a heavy financial and logistical burden on local families. For many, one parent must scale back their employment, resulting in a loss of income, while others are forced to hire private caregivers or nannies at substantial expense. This situation disproportionately impacts households with limited resources, single-parent families, and those without extended family nearby.
A district-run aftercare program would:
Provide equitable access to safe, supervised care for all students.
Support working families in maintaining employment without financial hardship.
Enhance student well-being through structured enrichment activities and social engagement.
Strengthen community ties by offering a consistent, district-managed solution.
We believe that the need for such a program is urgent and widespread. We respectfully ask the Board to prioritize exploring the feasibility, funding options, and implementation timeline for a district-operated aftercare service that can meet the needs of all families, not just a fortunate few.
Thank you for your time, attention, and commitment to supporting the students and families of our district. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with the Board or relevant committees to discuss this matter further.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
August 16, 2025
21 Comments
I'm a single working mom with a baby. I'm also a teacher. Working parents need reasonable options!
Both of my school-aged children are on the waitlist for the aftercare program at BAC - a waitlist that was in the triple digits last year. Something needs to be done.
Most families already enrolled get first preference, this allows little room for new families to enroll.
An inclusion program for children of all abilities and disabilities would also benefit the community. Being a parent of a child with a disability, having an after school program to meet the needs of these children is something the district should look at as well.
For the past 6 years, I have paid a sitter to watch my girls after school. I was lucky enough to find someone that was able and willing to work just 2 -3 hours a day, other families have not been so lucky and are constantly scrambling for aftercare. Our 2:00 end time makes the school day one of the shortest in all of NJ. My children have NEVER covered all of the topics in the approved curriculum, especially in science and social studies. We do not abide by the law when it comes to meeting physical education time. Adding aftercare and/or elongating the day in contractual language would be helpful to both students and families. It is important for our district to meet the needs of the families and this is a large need that has been ignored for a long time.
We also need before care at all schools!
We need this so much for our children.
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Dear Board Mrs. Antonella Lind and Members of the Board,
I am writing on behalf of many families in our district to formally request that the Board of Education consider establishing a district-run aftercare program for our elementary schools.
Currently, there is a significant shortage of after-school care options in our community. The existing programs have long waitlists, leaving numerous families without access to this essential service. With school dismissal at 2:00 p.m., it is simply not feasible for most working parents to coordinate pickups without either drastically reducing their work hours or arranging costly alternative care. This is especially challenging given that there are no other after-school programs available within the district.
The absence of sufficient aftercare options places a heavy financial and logistical burden on local families. For many, one parent must scale back their employment, resulting in a loss of income, while others are forced to hire private caregivers or nannies at substantial expense. This situation disproportionately impacts households with limited resources, single-parent families, and those without extended family nearby.
A district-run aftercare program would:
Provide equitable access to safe, supervised care for all students.
Support working families in maintaining employment without financial hardship.
Enhance student well-being through structured enrichment activities and social engagement.
Strengthen community ties by offering a consistent, district-managed solution.
We believe that the need for such a program is urgent and widespread. We respectfully ask the Board to prioritize exploring the feasibility, funding options, and implementation timeline for a district-operated aftercare service that can meet the needs of all families, not just a fortunate few.
Thank you for your time, attention, and commitment to supporting the students and families of our district. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with the Board or relevant committees to discuss this matter further.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
August 16, 2025
21 Comments
I am a mom from Long Valley, and I am ready to take the lead if the District approves a plan of action for all WTS schools. With a Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and a Master’s in Instructional Technology, I am well-equipped to contribute effectively to this initiative. I encourage the District to consider me for this opportunity—let's achieve great things together!
I'm a single working mom with a baby. I'm also a teacher. Working parents need reasonable options!
Both of my school-aged children are on the waitlist for the aftercare program at BAC - a waitlist that was in the triple digits last year. Something needs to be done.
Most families already enrolled get first preference, this allows little room for new families to enroll.
An inclusion program for children of all abilities and disabilities would also benefit the community. Being a parent of a child with a disability, having an after school program to meet the needs of these children is something the district should look at as well.
For the past 6 years, I have paid a sitter to watch my girls after school. I was lucky enough to find someone that was able and willing to work just 2 -3 hours a day, other families have not been so lucky and are constantly scrambling for aftercare. Our 2:00 end time makes the school day one of the shortest in all of NJ. My children have NEVER covered all of the topics in the approved curriculum, especially in science and social studies. We do not abide by the law when it comes to meeting physical education time. Adding aftercare and/or elongating the day in contractual language would be helpful to both students and families. It is important for our district to meet the needs of the families and this is a large need that has been ignored for a long time.
We also need before care at all schools!
We need this so much for our children.
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I am a mom from Long Valley, and I am ready to take the lead if the District approves a plan of action for all WTS schools. With a Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and a Master’s in Instructional Technology, I am well-equipped to contribute effectively to this initiative. I encourage the District to consider me for this opportunity—let's achieve great things together!