SHORELINE, Wash. — Shoreline School District 412 said Tuesday that Extended Care run by the district will end after this school year.
Before-school care begins at 7 a.m. After-school care ends at 6 p.m. The decision to end the childcare program does not sit well with families who depend on the service. Several of them spoke at the district’s most recent meeting.
“Childcare is a national issue right now,” said Kelly, a parent of a first-grader at Briarcrest Elementary. “There is a childcare shortage all over the country.”
"The fact there might be nothing for us next year is something our community can’t afford,” said Teresa, a mother of a first-grader at Ridgecrest Elementary. “Coming from a psychological perspective, a change in caregivers is one of the worst things we can do for our children. I cannot sing praises enough for the Ridgecrest after-care program, the stability and support my son is getting. It’s phenomenal. I do not want to lose that for my kid or any of the kids following him.”
"This isn’t the 1960s where mom stays home. We don’t. We need to work. We need extended care in the afternoons so that we can hold down full-time or part-time jobs,” said Carol, a grandparent of a child who goes to Briarcrest Elementary.
Five schools are set to lose their district-run extended care programs beginning in the 2024-2025 school year: Briarcrest, Brookside, Highland Terrace, Meridian Park and Ridgecrest elementary schools.
During Tuesday’s board meeting, Hillery Clark, co-director of early learning, and Angela Von Essen, assistant superintendent of business and operations, explained why the decision was made to end extended care. Clark and Von Essen said it was a business decision but also one of equity. Right now, the district-run extended care does not offer subsidies for low-income families. According to them, allowing an outside agency that can operate a licensed childcare program means all families in their district could be served. Subsidies would be given to those in need.
Families using the current childcare are still skeptical. Many of them shared stories about problems they experienced when childcare was run through an outside organization. They don’t believe their children will receive the same level of care and attention if the district isn’t running the program.
Clark and Von Essen explained the district looked into starting and operating a state-licensed childcare program, but the costs and logistics are too much. The price tag would be $1.4 million.
Detailed slides on how they got to that number are below.
Shoreline Public Schools operating costs for childcare program
Despite district-run childcare ending, Superintendent Susanna Reyes told those in the audience that families would not be without extended childcare next school year. When asked by a board member how she was so sure, Reyes said two outside agencies had already contacted her about filling the void. She did not name the agencies.
Currently, the Y rents facilities to offer its own licensed childcare in Shoreline’s other K-5 schools: Echo Lake, Lake Forest Park, Parkwood and Syre.
More information about what’s next will come at a board meeting in November or December.
There were also complaints about how all of this information was communicated to extended care staff and families. KING 5 offered Board President Dr. Sarah Cohen and Reyes the opportunity to address those concerns and speak directly to families who were unable to attend the meeting. They declined the offer.