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Old Bridge approves new rates for township before‑ and after‑school care; program is self‑sustaining, officials say
Summary
Parks and Recreation presented proposed 2026–27 rates for before/after school care and combo options; officials said the program is fully self‑sustaining, outlined costs for nurses and one‑on‑one paraprofessionals, and council adopted the fee adjustments after public comment.
Township Parks and Recreation officials told the council June 9 they are proposing adjusted monthly rates for the 2026–27 before‑ and after‑school programs to reflect enrollment, staffing costs and anticipated increases in benefits and wages.
"Our program is 100% self‑sustaining," Parks & Recreation Director Matt Mccuri said. He and program manager Jillian Dwire reported average monthly enrollment near 400 participants across all 11 township elementary schools and detailed cost drivers including health benefits, workers’ compensation, custodial and security expenses and the occasional need for one‑on‑one paraprofessionals or a nurse in a child’s care. Mccuri provided per‑child annual cost examples for staffing supports: for instance, the program would incur roughly $18,000 to staff a nurse to cover before‑care only, and roughly $45,000 if a nurse were needed for both before and after care, figures he said were illustrative of program costs.
After explaining the methodology (180‑day, 10‑month school year) Mccuri proposed revised monthly rates: before‑care only at $240–$270 depending on days per week; after‑care only from $384 to $432; and combined before‑and‑after care $448–$504 monthly, with percentage changes from prior years noted during the presentation. Officials emphasized that some proposed rates reflect decreases from early‑year charges while others reflect modest increases tied to labor and benefit costs.
Council members praised the presentation and asked technical questions about enrollment breakdowns and cost allocation. One public commenter asked why full health benefits were provided to staff who work limited daily hours; officials responded that the program employs full‑time staff and that benefit decisions reflected the program’s internal employment model.
After closing the public hearing the council adopted the fee adjustments on roll call. Officials said they will continue to work with the school district to identify shared services (janitorial, security) that could reduce costs going forward.
Next steps: The Parks & Recreation Department will implement the new fee schedule for the 2026–27 school year and continue monthly monitoring of enrollment and expenditures.
