Champions (KinderCare) pitches turnkey before-and-after-school program to Decatur SD 61 board
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Summary
Champions, a division of KinderCare, told the Decatur Public Schools board it would provide a no-cost, turnkey before- and after-school program using district space, offering a $25,000 equipment investment per building, subsidy specialists and liability coverage; the board will review a contract and vote in a future meeting.
The Decatur Public Schools board heard a detailed presentation from Champions, a division of KinderCare, on a proposal to run the district's before- and after-school (extended day) program.
Beth Cortolillo, a Champions partnership manager, said Champions would operate the program at no cost to the district by using school space while providing staffing, curriculum, enrollment support and family subsidy assistance. "If you supply the space, we're going to do the rest," Cortolillo said, adding Champions plans a $25,000 initial equipment investment per building and estimated that initial outlays would total "over a quarter million dollars." she said.
The presentation described curriculum stations, literacy and math boosters, a summer "Champ Camp," inclusion supports for children with special needs, and a subsidy team to help families complete state assistance applications. Cortolillo emphasized hiring locally and offering benefits to staff: "We want you. We want you bad," she said, referring to current after-school staff and paraprofessionals.
Public commenters and board members pressed Champions on safety, licensing and liability. Champions representatives said they carry "millions of dollars in liability insurance" and would provide certificates as part of any contract. They also described a digital check-in system (Discover Champions) to log attendance in real time and said site directors would meet regularly with building principals to coordinate discipline and program matters.
Corletta Murray, a teaching assistant at Eisenhower High School who addressed the board during public participation, urged the board to preserve what has worked in the existing extended-day program and to include current staff in any transition. "Let's continue to work together to reinforce what the children are already learning," Murray said.
Board members asked procedural questions about timing and procurement. Staff indicated they will provide the agreement materials and related contract documents to the board for review; a board member clarified that the board would vote on any agreement that places a private vendor in district buildings. Staff and Champions said they prefer a longer runway for implementation to allow time for hiring, training and equipment installation.
Why it matters: The district's extended-day program supports families with childcare, homework help and enrichment; a vendor change could affect staffing, program structure and how low-income families access subsidized tuition. The board did not take a final vote on the Champions proposal during the meeting and indicated the matter will return for formal consideration at a future board meeting.
Next steps: Staff will provide the contract/agreement documents for board review and a vote at a forthcoming meeting (board members discussed addressing vendor materials at the April meeting).
