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After‑school care faces staffing squeeze; Jenkintown SD explores wage and scheduling changes
Summary
The district’s before/after‑school program has 37 students currently enrolled for next year but faces staffing shortages, stringent DHS certification requirements, transportation barriers for staff and constrained facility space; administrators will recruit over the summer and revisit rates and scheduling.
Carmen Taylor, the supervisor for the district’s before/after‑school care program, briefed the board on operational rules, staffing needs and program constraints, warning that the program will likely retain only two returning staff members for next year without additional hires.
Taylor outlined the DHS regulatory requirements: extensive hiring paperwork and certifications (CPR, first aid, and multiple child‑abuse clearances), a required staff‑to‑student ratio of 1:12 with a minimum of two staff on site, and periodic audits. The program currently has 37 students registered for next year and has historically experienced wait lists when staffing is limited.
Board members and administration discussed obstacles to recruiting and retaining staff, including noncompetitive hourly wages, transportation challenges for employees coming from nearby schools (some who rely on rideshare), and limited physical space (cafeteria, shared classrooms, and music/art rooms) that complicate safe supervision. Options discussed included targeted wage increases (the presentation referenced an anticipated $8 PM increase), outreach to local universities for candidates, job fairs, potential automatic payment setups to ease billing, and revisiting grade bands for programming to reduce complexity.
Administrators said they plan targeted recruitment over the summer, to re‑evaluate pricing and program design (including possible travel stipends or scheduling changes for Arcadia students), and to report back to the board with recommendations before the start of the school year to ensure families who rely on the program have timely notice.
