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School committee approves six‑week summer "surround care" program, sets fee at $175 per week
Summary
The school committee voted April 20 to allow the district to run a six‑week summer surround care program for current K–5 students, setting a proposed fee of $175 per week; the district will operate the program in cooperation with parks and recreation and will report implementation details at the May 12 meeting.
The Swansea School Committee voted April 20 to authorize the district to offer a six‑week summer “surround care” program for current kindergarten through fifth‑grade students and set a proposed fee of $175 per child per week.
Superintendent Scott Holcomb said the program was developed quickly after a parent survey showed demand and that the parks and recreation department was willing to collaborate; the program is distinct from municipal summer “camp” offerings, Holcomb said, and is being structured as district‑run wraparound care.
Program details presented on April 20 include a proposed schedule of daily hours generally in the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. range, a target counselor‑to‑student ratio of 8:1 (maximum 10:1), and plans to provide themed weekly activities, community partners for occasional programming, and staffing by current surround‑care employees. Administrators said they are exploring whether breakfast and lunch can be provided through the district’s nutrition program and will seek to accommodate students with IEPs and medical needs.
Why it matters: Committee members said the program would fill a community need for daytime summer care for school‑age children and could be offered at Gardner School pending final logistics. The program was not intended to generate district profit but to provide an affordable option for families.
Vote and next steps: The committee voted in open session to approve moving forward; the administration will return May 12 with a fuller implementation plan, firm dates, staffing details, fees for meal options (if any), and an outline of volunteer and student‑helper roles. District officials said they will provide regular updates at school committee meetings as the program is finalized.
