Petition For A District-Run Aftercare Program

We also need before care at all schools!

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!

We need this so much for our children.

After care is absolutely essential for our community. Parents should have the right to work and send their kids to school without the unnecessary burden of navigating how to facilitate both without community support at the same time.

I'm a single working mom with a baby. I'm also a teacher. Working parents need reasonable options!

I understand sharing buses is the issue but first adjusting the start and end times for the youngest grades to be at least an hour later would be a good start.

It’s important to support working papers .

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.

We also need before care and bussing for preK students!!

I am fortunate to currently have circumstances that don't require aftercare, However. I am keenly aware that could change unexpectedly with a change in job, health, etc. and I could easily be among the families searching frantically for quality and affordable aftercare. The BAC aftercare program run by catholic charities was an absolute necessity for my family when my (now adult) daughter attended BAC years ago when I was a single working parent. Affordable and safe aftercare and extracurricular options are so important. I am saddened to hear that so many families in need of aftercare services are finding themselves on wait lists without other viable options. If the current program cannot be expanded to accommodate more of the families in need then it seems the district should explore other solutions/ partners to meet the need in our community.

We need aftercare

Time to do something

Currently on the waiting list and need care for after school.

This is truly needed for working families. Most households have 2 parents that have to work. Work hours are a far cry from school hours.

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.

Absolutely needed and so, so important!!!

Supporting our families should be one of the cornerstones of this community. Happy to sign and support!

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.

This is so needed!