After-school program reports steady enrollment, asks committee to fund part‑time assistant

Cam, the town recreation director, and Jackie Beck, the after‑school care director, updated the committee on the Wreck after‑school program, describing the first-year rollout and current usage: roughly 12 children per day, Fridays as the lowest-attendance day (three to four kids), and about 20 children attending half‑day Wednesdays.

Jackie described the program’s current fee structure (— per regular day, $20 for early-release days) and the program’s desire to remain affordable while becoming self-sustaining. Cam and multiple committee members said they support hiring a part‑time assistant so Jackie will have reliable coverage and the program can meet liability guidelines that typically require two adults on site. "You should probably always have two people here anyways," one committee member said, pointing to supervision and restroom breaks.

Committee members suggested options to reduce staffing costs, including offering work‑trade options for parents who can work at the program, recruiting vocational students through nearby high‑school programs, and exploring whether teachers could receive stipends. The group discussed logistics such as whether the town or school would fund the hire and how a weekly or flat-rate fee for families might better ensure budget stability than per‑day pricing.

Presenters raised space concerns for half days and suggested using the Porter gym to accommodate longer program hours. The recreation team said they would return with cost estimates and potential rate adjustments to cover a second staff member while preserving scholarship support for families in need.

Next steps: Staff will explore hiring options, potential partnerships with the regional vocational childcare program, and revised budget scenarios. The committee encouraged the presenters to return with concrete cost figures for a part‑time assistant and any recommended rate structure.