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Decatur superintendent recommends ending extended day program, cites $2 million annual cost
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Clark told the board she recommends discontinuing Decatur SD 61's extended day program because it costs the district about $2,000,000 annually, serves under 10% of K— students and relies on expired COVID funds; she asked the board's consent to pursue vendor partnerships as alternatives.
Superintendent Dr. Clark told the Decatur SD 61 Board of Education on March 10 that she is recommending the district discontinue its extended day program because it is fiscally unsustainable.
"At this time, it is costing the district closely to $2,000,000 a year to operate," Dr. Clark said, adding that the program serves "less than 10% of our K— population, more so like 5 to 6 percent with a huge waiting list." She said the district previously used COVID funds to offset costs and those funds ended about a year ago in December.
Why it matters: The program provided before- and after-school care to families but is expensive relative to participation; ending it would shift families to outside providers and could affect access for low-income households unless alternatives are arranged.
Dr. Clark asked the board, by consensus, to allow the district to explore vendor-run alternatives that would operate in district buildings. She identified two potential partners by name: Champions and Right at School, and said Champions has indicated it would come to the next board meeting to present a proposal. She described the model as space provided by the district while the vendor would be responsible for operations.
Board members pressed for details on affordability and safety. One board member asked, "What about our parents in need, low income families? Will these vendors be respectful to their needs?" Dr. Clark said the vendor she had spoken to "said their application process is very simple" and can offer low- or no-cost options based on families' income; she said the vendor had provided a flyer with a QR code for families to access application information.
On staffing and security, Dr. Clark said vendors would be "responsible for everything," including hiring, conducting background checks and providing site security; she said some existing district staff could be considered for vendor employment but that vendors would run their own hiring and training processes.
Dr. Clark also announced an operational timeline detail: the recommended final day for the district-run extended day program is May 22, 2026, to give families time to evaluate alternatives.
What happens next: Dr. Clark asked the board for consensus to continue vendor engagement and said she would present vendor proposals for board review; Champions was invited to present at the next meeting and Dr. Clark had a scheduled call with Right at School on March 12 to evaluate options.
Clarifying details: Dr. Clark described the $2,000,000 figure as an approximate annual operating cost and said the program had previously been supported by COVID-related funds that ended about a year earlier. Participation was characterized as "less than 10%, more so like 5 to 6 percent" of the district's elementary population; she said the program currently has a significant waiting list.
The board did not take immediate formal action to terminate the program at the March 10 meeting; Dr. Clark framed the decision as a recommendation and sought authority to negotiate with external providers and return with proposals.
