Parent raises concerns about Apollo after-school program: fees, pick-up rules and snack/enrichment services

A Belleville parent described problems with the district’s contracted after-school program run by Apollo during public comment at the June 16 Belleville Board of Education meeting, urging the board to review the contract or consider returning to the previous vendor.

Why it matters: Families said the program’s policies create scheduling and cost burdens for working parents and reduce the enrichment and homework support they expected.

Tina Newton Garcia, a Belleville resident who identified herself as the parent of two children at the Hornblower Early Childhood Center and as a school administrator in Jersey City, told the board the district’s switch from a vendor called Champions to Apollo left families with less-flexible payment rules and stricter pick-up penalties.

Newton Garcia said Champions had offered a weekly payment option that better matched variable family schedules. She said Apollo requires full monthly payment in advance even when a family needs only part of a month and that Apollo allows no grace period for late pick-up. She said pickup at Hornblower begins at 3 p.m. and the latest permitted pickup time is 3:15 p.m.; she said she sometimes arrives at 3:25 p.m. when commuting and that one instance resulted in an out-of-pocket cost she described as $92 for a short delay.

She also said Apollo’s communications and program elements differ from what she received previously: she said she did not see homework folders or celebrations that Champions provided, and she described instances where children were served minimal or late snacks. She reported one pickup at about 4:15 p.m. when staff said they had no snacks available and handed each child a lollipop; on another occasion she said children received an uncovered plate with pretzels and a half banana.

Newton Garcia said morning drop-off has been inconsistent; she said Apollo’s posted opening time is 7 a.m. but that on some days staff did not admit children until about 7:10 a.m., which she said caused lateness for her commuting to work.

What the district said: Interim Superintendent Nick Peripato acknowledged he had not previously been made aware of these specific concerns and asked Newton Garcia to send a written email to the superintendent so staff could investigate and follow up. Board members and staff said emails should be forwarded to the superintendent’s office for timely response and that the board would ensure a follow-up.

Next steps: The board asked the parent to submit her concerns in writing to the superintendent so staff could review Apollo’s contract, payment procedures, pick-up policies and snack/enrichment delivery and respond to the family’s issues.

Ending: Newton Garcia asked the board to consider returning to Champions or renegotiating Apollo’s contract; the board said staff would investigate and follow up.