The superintendent said the district will bring a recommendation on Dec. 1 to contract with Right at School to run a three-week summer catalog and the district’s before-and-after care program under a proposed three-year agreement. The district issued an RFP this fall and received five vendor responses; the selection panel narrowed the field to three before recommending Right at School for its combination of affordability and program quality.

The superintendent told the board the district prioritized family affordability, program quality, staffing stability and the vendor’s willingness to align with Great Valley curricula. On funding, the superintendent said Right at School "wasn't exactly the cheapest, they were the next in line, and they had a high quality program," and that preliminary pricing could lower family costs in some cases compared with current fees.

Board members asked whether the YMCA would still be able to offer its own summer programs; the superintendent replied that outside organizations may rent district facilities and that the YMCA will continue independently this year. Several members pressed on staffing turnover and the transition for families who had recently adjusted to the YMCA; one member emphasized that the YMCA is a nonprofit while Right at School is a for-profit provider. The superintendent said Right at School provided assurances about staff consistency and offered outreach to current YMCA employees who might wish to transfer.

The recommended contract is structured as a three-year commitment with an intentionally small first-year summer offering (three weeks) so the district and provider may test implementation before expanding. The superintendent said district staff (curriculum leads, facilities and the superintendent’s office) would oversee implementation and communications; the vendor would handle recruiting, registration and day-to-day operations.

The board will take a formal vote on the recommendation at the Dec. 1 meeting. If approved, the district expects vendors to finalize registrations in December and offer catalog sign-ups to families immediately afterward.