Exeter board reviews Right at School proposal to restore before- and after-school child care

Right at School representatives presented a proposal April 8 for on-site before- and after-school care, holiday/break programming and summer camps at Exeter Township School District elementary schools.

The program would run Monday–Friday, beginning at 7 a.m. before the school day and continuing after school until 6 p.m., and Right at School told the board it can operate on full days such as spring and winter break and summer. Denise, director of school partnerships for Right at School, said the company “started with a town hall” each session, includes homework time, regular fitness and “disguised learning” curriculum that is hands-on and inquiry-based.

The proposal covers service details and family pricing. Denise said Right at School will perform district-required background checks, handle hiring, provide curriculum and supplies, manage registration and marketing and offer flexible family options including one-day signups and punch-card drop-in sessions. She said the provider accepts childcare subsidies and offers discounts: 10% for siblings, 20% for families qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, 50% for district staff and free enrollment for children of district employees who also work for Right at School. Denise said, “If a family wanted to have a 1 on 1 join their child that needed that support, we absolutely support that as well.”

Board members and district administrators pressed for contract clarifications. Dawn Harris, assistant superintendent, and Dr. Christy Haller, superintendent, confirmed the district would host the program in school facilities but would not pay Right at School to operate it. The draft agreement includes a clause requiring the district to pay tuition for students identified under the McKinney-Vento Act; Dawn Harris read the clause aloud and Dr. Haller confirmed McKinney-Vento provides services for students identified as homeless. The board asked the solicitor to re‑review the McKinney‑Vento language before the item goes to a vote.

Other clarifications requested by the board included the minimum enrollment threshold to run a site, staffing ratios and transportation arrangements. Denise said each elementary site needs at least 15 enrolled students to operate and that Pennsylvania licensing requires a 1:12 adult–student ratio; she added Right at School will “hire up” as enrollment grows. Because the programs would be hosted in each elementary building, Denise said district transportation would not be required and parents would drop off and pick up children at their home buildings. She also confirmed that initial registration would be opened in May if the board pursues the agreement.

Board members asked about summer programming and possible consolidation of sites; Denise said Right at School can operate a consolidated summer site if the district prefers and will follow district direction on late openings and inclement weather. The presentation included an estimate that Right at School’s pricing is about 30% below local private providers, a projected family savings “about $2,000 for families” over a 10-month period, and that Right at School serves about 65,000 students nationally with existing Pennsylvania partners.

The board did not vote on the contract at the Committee of the Whole meeting; members asked the solicitor to review language and asked Right at School to return with any edits. Administration and the board agreed to send the draft contract to the April voting meeting with solicitor revisions noted.

If moved to a future vote, the contract would be posted on the district website before the voting meeting and the board indicated it will provide updated contract language to members when available.