Possible Changes to SACC - if you use or may someday use, please read.

[Anonymous]

When I picked up my child from SACC today, I was given some handouts. The handouts indicate that, in these difficult budgetary times, the County is considering "outsourcing" SACC. Don't know about you, but I highly doubt they are looking into outsourcing in order to enrich my child's after-school experience. Budget cuts, anyone?

The handouts are signed by the "SACC Parent Advisory Council". They state the following:

'The (Fairfax) County Executive has proposed in the FY2010 budget a new school-aged childcare pilot program at Coppermine and Laurel Hill, two new elementary schools opening in the fall of 2009. And according to an article in the Connection newspaper, alternative mechanisms for SACC are being considered for more than these two schools. (http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=326496&paper=71&cat=109) As yet, the details of the pilots are very vague. Will there be 30, 60, 90, or 120 children in these schools? We don't know. Will it be as enriching as SACC is today? Likely not. Could this pilot program be expanded to your school? Probably yes, especially if parents and supporters of SACC don't speak up."

"As Parents.... you can make a difference by (contacting) your county supervisor.

- Ask why the county is spending resources to investigate outsourcing the SACC program when we know how well the current program works.
- Make clear that, as a voting resident of their district, you are very pleased with SACC as it is.
- Help them understand that SACC is a benchmark for afterschool programs around the country, with high quality programming that supports our children's education, low staff turnover, and affordable rates for working parents.
- And make sure they recognize that the SACC program is fully-funded by the parents of the SACC students as either customers or taxpayers.

We need a groundswell of support to keep the SACC we know.... You know the alternatives, that's why you choose SACC!"

As a parent, I agree with them. SACC has been a wonderful program for my kindergartener and it's not broke. I will be contacting my district to ask that they not "fix" it. I hope you do the same.

- SACC parent

[Anonymous]

To keep the high quality SACC program as it exists now, please be prepared to pay more for the service in the future.