District 73 mulls program changes

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:13AM

In a move that generating significant debate among parents and school officials, Hawthorn School District 73 is considering a potential change in its programming.

The school district is considering proposals from the Afterschool Club of Grayslake and the Vernon Hills Park District to provide before- and after-school programming for elementary-school students as well as half-day kindergarten for the district beginning in the 2012-2013 school year. The Afterschool Club of Grayslake has provided before/after school services for the district for the past 21 years, but its current contract expires at the end of this school year.

Hawthorn School Board President Tim Shanahan said the district is weighing the two proposals and has not yet made any decisions. The board could decide at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 in the district office, 841 West End Court in Vernon Hills.

Shanahan said the board has a fiduciary responsibility to consider all options in order to provide the best possible service to students.

“It’s a very tough decision to make,” he said. “We’ve had somebody that’s provided service for 20 years and hasn’t done anything wrong. We’ve also worked with the park district (on different programs) for many years and we’ve had a good relationship with them.”

The park district and Afterschool Club made presentations of their proposals at the Jan. 23 board meeting. The proposals, which would be for a three-year contract, are posted on the school district’s website at www.hawthorn73.org.

Park district director Jeff Fougerousse said both proposals meet the requirements set forth by the school district but the park district believes it will be able to provide services at a significant lower cost to district residents.

‘Cost savings’

Fougerousse said their program would be about $800 a year less per student for before and after school programming than the current program and $750 a year less per student for the kindergarten program.

“It’s very significant,” he said. “When you add up the number of kids that attend these programs each year, it’s about $141,000 per year in cost savings. Our proposal is a three-year lock in price, which means we will not raise any of our fees for the three years of the contract.”

Fougerousse said the park district would also be able to offer a wide range of recreational and educational programs for the children, such as martial arts, Mad Science, Young Rembrandts, as well as a variety of health, wellness and fitness programs.

“We just feel like we’re in a position where we’re very qualified to take over this program,” he said.
David Lucas, owner and president of the Afterschool Club, said their company has a 26 -year history of providing child care services in Lake County. It currently operates after school programs at a number of schools including Hawthorn, Libertyville District 70, Diamond Lake School District 76 in Mundelein, Oak Grove School District 68, Lotus School in Spring Grove and Gavin School in Ingleside.

Lucas said the major difference between their program and the park district proposal is their program focuses on providing child care. He said there are currently about 300 students in their before and after school programs at Hawthorn.

“We have had a wonderful relationship with the community and school district over the years,” he said. “While the park district offers some wonderful programs, there’s a difference between child care and child recreation. We specialize in child care.”

Lucas said park district staff lack the experience to provide child care services in a school environment, while many of the Afterschool Club staff have worked in Hawthorn schools for 15 to 20 years.

Lucas said the community seems satisfied with the current programs and many parents came out to voice support for the Afterschool Club program at the last school board meeting.

Rachel Trachtman, a Hawthorn parent with two children in district schools, said the Afterschool Club has provided a safe environment for children, but she thinks the park district may be able to offer more recreational and enrichment programs.

“The current program has experience in terms of running after school care, but the park district has so many programs in the community,” she said. “I’d be excited to see what they could bring to the table if they were to win the bid.”