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Little Falls board names Boys & Girls Club as district's after-school and summer childcare partner
Summary
The Little Falls School Board voted to designate the Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota as the district's official KidSTOP after‑school and summer childcare provider and approved a memorandum of understanding that guarantees space for the program and outlines services, hours and scholarship supports.
The Little Falls Board of Education on Feb. 10 voted to formalize a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota, designating the organization's KidSTOP program as the district's official after‑school and summer childcare provider.
The resolution approved by roll call requires the district to provide school space “comparable and substantially equal to current space provided for the Little Falls Community Education Program” at no charge for at least the first full year and affirms that the Boys & Girls Club will offer scholarship support so “no child will be turned away due to inability to pay.” Sharon (board member) introduced the resolution; the motion passed by a recorded vote with board members Dan, Doug, Julie, Mark, Kelsey and Sharon voting yes.
The Boys & Girls Club's regional leadership described the KidSTOP model and what the partnership will deliver locally. Jerry Bechtold, vice president of operations for Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota, said the organization operates traditional, no‑fee club programs and fee‑based KidSTOP before/after school programs in neighboring districts, serving youth through high school and offering summer programming. Deb Nevisis, the organization's resource development director, said traditional clubs are free outside of summer programming and KidSTOP programs include fee assistance funded through county childcare dollars, United Way contributions and local donors.
Under the plan presented to the board, KidSTOP would begin this summer at the Lindbergh site and expand next fall to both Lindbergh and Lincoln. Staffing and operations details presented to the board and district staff include: - Hours: KidSTOP plans to operate roughly 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer; next school year KidSTOP would run roughly 6:30 a.m. (before school) through 6 p.m. (after school). The summer program start is planned for this summer at Lindbergh, then both Lindbergh and Lincoln in the fall if the board approves the arrangement. - Staffing and ratios: KidSTOP described a staffing model with a 1:15 staff-to-youth ratio for the program and 45‑minute activity rotations offering sports, arts, academics and outdoor time. - Transportation and off‑site activities: Presenters and district staff said KidSTOP will transport students to some community activities (swim lessons, baseball, high‑school activities) but that routine daytime transport to off‑site classes (for example gymnastics) is limited by district transportation changes; KidSTOP said it will work with Community Ed to adjust schedules so families can access activities in evenings or outside KidSTOP hours when necessary. - Local funding: Presenters noted the Little Falls thrift store has been a major local funder, contributing roughly one third of the club's operating budget locally; other funding comes from county childcare funds, United Way and local donors. The club said it has scholarship funds to help families who cannot pay fees.
Board members asked staff and the Boys & Girls Club for clarification about transportation, hours and how KidSTOP would coordinate with the district's existing community‑education offerings and summer activities; presenters said staff had already begun mapping transportation and parent registration plans in anticipation of a board decision.
The resolution directs the superintendent and district staff to implement the memorandum of understanding between the district and the Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota, making KidSTOP the district's designated after‑school and summer childcare program of choice.
The board's action followed roughly 30 minutes of presentation and Q&A from Boys & Girls Club staff and district representatives. The board did not vote on an operating contract or fee schedule at the meeting — the resolution designates KidSTOP as the program of choice and authorizes the MOU and use of space for the first year; operational details and enrollment forms were described as next steps.
The Boys & Girls Club representatives invited board members and the community to tour the updated Little Falls Club facility and said they were already scheduling parent meetings and intake forms to be distributed if the district moved forward.
Why it matters: the designation makes the Boys & Girls Club the district's official partner for after‑school care and expands district capacity for child care and enrichment at a time when families and the district have cited transportation and staffing changes that affect how off‑site activities are accessed.
Looking ahead: staff and the club will finalize parent registration materials and implementation plans; board members asked for continued updates on enrollment, transportation arrangements and scholarship distribution.
