Why do aftercare programs don't provide more pickup options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hahahaha. I’m a teacher in another district and technically need beforecare for 15-20 minutes in the morning and aftercare for 30 minutes each afternoon. I pay over $600/month for this service. Because I even if I needed it for 15 minutes total per day I would have to pay full price for it. My kid likes it so it give Democrats me the chance to stay later at work to get stuff done or run an errand before picking him up.

You actually think that paying for minutes actually used is a business model that will stay afloat and attract qualified candidates? I really hope you don’t work in business.

Is it bad that I now want aftercare to go up to 1100 just for you? You are not a considerate person.

[Anonymous]

Haha OP here, everyone calms down.
So at my school most aftercare staffs are teachers who are there for the day and are trying to make some extra bucks, so I am sure some would want to stay an extra 1-2hours instead of 3 hours. I wasn't asking for paying for 45minutes, but maybe instead of paying $400/3 hours they should have $250/1.5 hours and $400/3 hours? Most summer camps after care programs provide that options why cant schools do the same?

[Anonymous]

I think the op has a reasonable request. I understand the ratio requirements, but the beginning of aftercare is usually just corraling the kids and giving them snack and maybe some outdoor time. Can’t they just pull in some of the extra school staff (not full teachers) who want to make some extra cash for an hour after school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP here, everyone calms down.
So at my school most aftercare staffs are teachers who are there for the day and are trying to make some extra bucks, so I am sure some would want to stay an extra 1-2hours instead of 3 hours. I wasn't asking for paying for 45minutes, but maybe instead of paying $400/3 hours they should have $250/1.5 hours and $400/3 hours? Most summer camps after care programs provide that options why cant schools do the same?

* I meant $450 for 3 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP here, everyone calms down.
So at my school most aftercare staffs are teachers who are there for the day and are trying to make some extra bucks, so I am sure some would want to stay an extra 1-2hours instead of 3 hours. I wasn't asking for paying for 45minutes, but maybe instead of paying $400/3 hours they should have $250/1.5 hours and $400/3 hours? Most summer camps after care programs provide that options why cant schools do the same?

Why don't you give it a whilrl, OP? Then report back to us and let us know how that business model works out!

[Anonymous]

Because they would no longer have a viable business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP here, everyone calms down.
So at my school most aftercare staffs are teachers who are there for the day and are trying to make some extra bucks, so I am sure some would want to stay an extra 1-2hours instead of 3 hours. I wasn't asking for paying for 45minutes, but maybe instead of paying $400/3 hours they should have $250/1.5 hours and $400/3 hours? Most summer camps after care programs provide that options why cant schools do the same?

I have never seen a summer camp that offers multiple aftercare options like that.

They also have fixed costs that are unrelated to how long your kid stays, such as snacks, supplies, any craft materials used, administrative costs, insurance, rent, etc.

It's also possible that there's not enough demand for it, or they have no trouble filling their aftercare program as-is and see no need to change it to make less money than they do now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP here, everyone calms down.
So at my school most aftercare staffs are teachers who are there for the day and are trying to make some extra bucks, so I am sure some would want to stay an extra 1-2hours instead of 3 hours. I wasn't asking for paying for 45minutes, but maybe instead of paying $400/3 hours they should have $250/1.5 hours and $400/3 hours? Most summer camps after care programs provide that options why cant schools do the same?

I have never seen a summer camp that offers multiple aftercare options like that.

They also have fixed costs that are unrelated to how long your kid stays, such as snacks, supplies, any craft materials used, administrative costs, insurance, rent, etc.

It's also possible that there's not enough demand for it, or they have no trouble filling their aftercare program as-is and see no need to change it to make less money than they do now.

I think she means that camp can run like this: a 1/2 day option, a full day option and an option to add before care and/or after care to the mix. her previous camp did the same. You really do pay for what you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP here, everyone calms down.
So at my school most aftercare staffs are teachers who are there for the day and are trying to make some extra bucks, so I am sure some would want to stay an extra 1-2hours instead of 3 hours. I wasn't asking for paying for 45minutes, but maybe instead of paying $400/3 hours they should have $250/1.5 hours and $400/3 hours? Most summer camps after care programs provide that options why cant schools do the same?

I have never seen a summer camp that offers multiple aftercare options like that.

They also have fixed costs that are unrelated to how long your kid stays, such as snacks, supplies, any craft materials used, administrative costs, insurance, rent, etc.

It's also possible that there's not enough demand for it, or they have no trouble filling their aftercare program as-is and see no need to change it to make less money than they do now.

This is just one example of camps with those options:
https://anshome.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2019-Summer-Camp-Guide.pdf

The highlights of the flyer above:
Fees (same rate for members and nonmembers)
$45 per week for Before Care from 8-8:45 am, Tuesday-Friday (Grades 1 and up only)
$120 per week for Full Extended Camp from 3-6 pm (Grades 1-4)
$65 per week for Half Extended Camp from 3-4 pm (Grades Full Day Pre-K/K-4)
$75 per week for Half Extended Camp from 4-6 pm (Grades 5 and up only)

So yeah maybe what I am asking is not that crazy or impossible!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP here, everyone calms down.
So at my school most aftercare staffs are teachers who are there for the day and are trying to make some extra bucks, so I am sure some would want to stay an extra 1-2hours instead of 3 hours. I wasn't asking for paying for 45minutes, but maybe instead of paying $400/3 hours they should have $250/1.5 hours and $400/3 hours? Most summer camps after care programs provide that options why cant schools do the same?

I have never seen a summer camp that offers multiple aftercare options like that.

They also have fixed costs that are unrelated to how long your kid stays, such as snacks, supplies, any craft materials used, administrative costs, insurance, rent, etc.

It's also possible that there's not enough demand for it, or they have no trouble filling their aftercare program as-is and see no need to change it to make less money than they do now.

This is just one example of camps with those options:
https://anshome.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2019-Summer-Camp-Guide.pdf

The highlights of the flyer above:
Fees (same rate for members and nonmembers)
$45 per week for Before Care from 8-8:45 am, Tuesday-Friday (Grades 1 and up only)
$120 per week for Full Extended Camp from 3-6 pm (Grades 1-4)
$65 per week for Half Extended Camp from 3-4 pm (Grades Full Day Pre-K/K-4)
$75 per week for Half Extended Camp from 4-6 pm (Grades 5 and up only)

So yeah maybe what I am asking is not that crazy or impossible!

NP here- I have truly never seen this before. I think this is unique to this camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP here, everyone calms down.
So at my school most aftercare staffs are teachers who are there for the day and are trying to make some extra bucks, so I am sure some would want to stay an extra 1-2hours instead of 3 hours. I wasn't asking for paying for 45minutes, but maybe instead of paying $400/3 hours they should have $250/1.5 hours and $400/3 hours? Most summer camps after care programs provide that options why cant schools do the same?

I have never seen a summer camp that offers multiple aftercare options like that.

They also have fixed costs that are unrelated to how long your kid stays, such as snacks, supplies, any craft materials used, administrative costs, insurance, rent, etc.

It's also possible that there's not enough demand for it, or they have no trouble filling their aftercare program as-is and see no need to change it to make less money than they do now.

This is just one example of camps with those options:
https://anshome.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2019-Summer-Camp-Guide.pdf

The highlights of the flyer above:
Fees (same rate for members and nonmembers)
$45 per week for Before Care from 8-8:45 am, Tuesday-Friday (Grades 1 and up only)
$120 per week for Full Extended Camp from 3-6 pm (Grades 1-4)
$65 per week for Half Extended Camp from 3-4 pm (Grades Full Day Pre-K/K-4)
$75 per week for Half Extended Camp from 4-6 pm (Grades 5 and up only)

So yeah maybe what I am asking is not that crazy or impossible!

NP here- I have truly never seen this before. I think this is unique to this camp.

OP Here, it is not that unique, I saw maybe 3 camps like this, which is where I got this idea, I don't remember all the camps but if I do I will post their info here.

[Anonymous]

Same. My elementary school runs 9-2:30 There is no way DH nor I could make either time. If it were 8-3:30, we could easily make that, but we have to be at work before 9 and 3:30 is the earliest we can leave. I don't want my kids in aftercare, but it seems like unless you're a SAHM, the hours are so prohibitive that you have to pay for aftercare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posts like this drive me crazy because they are so self absorbed. The aftercare program is running a service. It needs to employ staff and maintain appropriate ratios. How could it manage pro-rating for early pick up times like child care at a gym? So the staff would only get paid for working an extra 45 min? Just think about it.

Seriously. OP is so typical self-absorbed DC.
"what do you mean, can't the aftercare staff work around MY needs? Surely the employees can manage to just live off of 45 minutes of salary because that's only childcare hours I need. What, the workers have set bills and need a full 3 hours of income?. NO way, I thought the world revolved around me!"

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posts like this drive me crazy because they are so self absorbed. The aftercare program is running a service. It needs to employ staff and maintain appropriate ratios. How could it manage pro-rating for early pick up times like child care at a gym? So the staff would only get paid for working an extra 45 min? Just think about it.

Seriously. OP is so typical self-absorbed DC.
"what do you mean, can't the aftercare staff work around MY needs? Surely the employees can manage to just live off of 45 minutes of salary because that's only childcare hours I need. What, the workers have set bills and need a full 3 hours of income?. NO way, I thought the world revolved around me!"

+1

+100

OP, aftercare isn't really created to be tailored to your needs; its more of a catch-all (one size fits all) operation. It sounds like you need a part-time nanny or attend a private school (where they offer these options). Aftercare is program offered to working parents that can't pick up their kids at 3 or 3:15 because of their jobs. You pay a flat fee because your child can stay from 3:30 to 6:30 even if you don't need them to be there the entire time. It's not customizable. It doesn't exist to offer these different options--it exists to meet the general needs of the parent body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP here, everyone calms down.
So at my school most aftercare staffs are teachers who are there for the day and are trying to make some extra bucks, so I am sure some would want to stay an extra 1-2hours instead of 3 hours. I wasn't asking for paying for 45minutes, but maybe instead of paying $400/3 hours they should have $250/1.5 hours and $400/3 hours? Most summer camps after care programs provide that options why cant schools do the same?

Running aftercare programs is complicated and this would be a complicated option. I understand why you want it but it's just unlikely. I have seen aftercare that ends at 6pm with a special option for 6:30pm that parents pay extra to access. But, in this case, it would be easier to track who is supposed to be left at 6:15pm and who is not. In your scenario, it would be really hard to keep track of which parents paid for 2 hours but regularly used 3.

Our first charter had drop in aftercare which was AMAZING. Our current one doesn't. But, we understand our current one is run in house and they just can't handle the variability as much as the hired program. So, we deal.

If you've found an aftercare nanny for two kids for less than $1000, great! Keep doing that. Ours is super reliable but we may much more.