By MATTHEW SOCKOL
Correspondent
SAYREVILLE — A before- and after-school program is coming to the Sayreville Public School District, amidst controversy.
At the Board of Education’s Feb. 16 meeting, Springboard Education for America, an extended learning day provider, presented its services to the district.
“Our organization really takes a look at the impact of the out-of-school time hours and how we can capitalize on that to provide opportunities for children to continue to educate them, but in a fun, creative way so that children have a passion for learning,” said Kim Jennings, vice president of partnership development for Springboard Education for America.
The program offers aid to students from preschool to grade five.
“We provide opportunities in and around the traditional school day to help support students in their programs and to provide research-based opportunities that show how what we’re doing with our students has an impact on their learning. We work with our school partners, whether it’s elementary school, preschool or middle school to help support learning. Our goal is to service all students,” she said.
Dr. Richard R. Labbe, superintendent of Sayreville’s schools, recommended that the board approve a contract with Springboard for the period of Sept. 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, which the board unanimously voted to accept.
However, Springboard’s appearance prompted opposition from residents attending the meeting in part because Sayreville already receives aid from the Before and After School Care (BASC) Network, which Springboard would replace.
Among those who raised concerns were Barbara Shadis-Caruso and Danielle Cleary, who both have children in the BASC program. Shadis-Caruso felt that Springboard would force students to complete their homework, which is optional in BASC, although Jennings stated homework was also optional in Springboard.
Cleary was concerned about the price of Springboard, which was reportedly comparable to BASC’s cost, but had not been disclosed to the public.
“My concern was there was a comparable price point, but there was no actual number provided,” Cleary said. “How [is] this any better or worse than what is already in place, with people our children have established good relationships with and feel comfortable with?”
Labbe responded that many of Springboard’s prices were lower than those of the BASC Network’s. He did not reveal the prices, but stated the public would be notified of this information and he informed the board of the prices. He also emphasized that Springboard was the best program for Sayreville’s students.
“This program provides certified teachers,” Labbe said. “This program will provide a preschool solution, something we didn’t have before. This program will provide support for children with disabilities, which we did not have before.”
Board Member John Walsh also cited Springboard’s aid to preschool and special education students as an advantage when resident John Bovery asked how Springboard was superior to BASC.
“We can help more kids, kids with special needs and our preschool population,” Walsh said. “That’s a group I’m not going to turn my back on when we have an opportunity right now to help them. Right now, the door is closed to them.”
Cleary and Shadis-Caruso established that they were most worried over the fact that the board would be voting on Springboard when they had not heard of the program before.
“This came to our attention today, and it’s being voted on today,” Cleary said. “We just felt very left in the dark and we’re the ones that are going to be directly affected by it.”
Resident Fred Block supported Cleary’s concern that the board was voting on a program that parents were just informed of.
“I didn’t hear about this until now,” he said. “I don’t have any children using the (BASC) program, but I do think that if parents are finding out today and that numbers are not being disclosed with the public, and you’re going to vote on bringing this program in today, I don’t think you’re giving everybody much of a chance to hear it out, get the details and then provide good feedback. It’s rubbing people the wrong way.”
Phelarn Curry, who has worked for the BASC Network for 11 years, voiced objections to BASC being replaced by Springboard and argued BASC offered the same services.
“My supervisors called me Friday night to let us know that we are no longer welcome in this town,” Curry said. “And I’m from this town. My children are products of this town. I know you have to change, but what you’re getting ready to invest in, you already have. And you have it with people who love your children.”
Prior to the board’s vote, the opposition towards Springboard prompted Board Member Thomas Biesiada to ask if the program should be presented to the Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs) before the board made a decision on it.
Labbe, who had not yet presented the program to the PTOs, recommended against the board delaying their decision because doing so would make it difficult for Springboard to begin operations in September.
Board Member Kevin Ciak, who stated he suggested Springboard speak to Labbe, argued parents would object to Springboard because they are not familiar with the new program and are used to BASC. He defended Springboard on the grounds that it allowed for more involvement from the schools and the Board of Education.
“What I saw is significant change from when the board initially instituted BASC,” Ciak said. “The thinking we were all part of at that time was we had parent demand for a before- and after-school care program. And the board’s mentality was, ‘Look, we’ll offer before- and after-school care. We don’t want to be bothered with it and we don’t want it to cost us anything. We want a program that’s going to take care of these kids for working parents before and after school and we don’t want to hear about it because that’s not what we do. We take care of kids during the context of the school day.’
“What I saw with Springboard was an opportunity to say, ‘Look. You don’t only have to provide care and have it be a program that is just there to look after these kids, there’s an opportunity to link it to your curricula and have it be an extension of your learning environment,’” he continued. “I never thought of the Before and After School Care concept in that manner.”
