By Scott Roblin

SD76 accepting proposals for before-and-after school program privatization

Mar 14, 2018 | 5:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Before-and-after school child care is a necessary cost for many working parents in the city.

For years, these parents have picked up and dropped off kids with programs operated by the Medicine Hat Public School Division, but that could be changing with SD76 looking towards privatization for child care.

Currently, SD76 operate 10 programs at elementary schools in the city featuring some level of care before or after school.

Stephanie Dalton’s son attends Grade 5 at Dr. Roy Wilson Learning Centre and is high-functioning autistic.

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She said with staff stretched thin, the school pulled him from their after school program last year.

“They weren’t able to hire any additional staff to potentially work one-to-one with my son or with other children who may have difficulties after school.”

SD76 is now accepting tenders for their 10 programs, with Superintendent Mark Davidson saying they are looking for a more experienced operator.

“We wanted people whose sole focus in their work was on providing that kind of quality care.”

The board will be evaluating their options with a focus put on cost, but Davidson added it’s possible that fees for parents could rise once a switch-over happens.

“Price was part of what it was that we were using as a judge, with respect to who we’ll give it to. We would not be able to commit to no change in cost.”

Dalton said while the uncertainty for cost is concerning, she’s open to anything that will provide better service for her son.

“If I’m looking at it as in, I can not be concerned about my hours at work and know my son is going to be taken care of before and after school, then that’s something that I have to take into consideration.”

Another reason for a push towards privatization is that just four of SD76’s 10 programs are currently accredited.

If the remaining six receive certification through privatization, additional subsidies from the province could be made available for parents.

THRIVE Executive Director Karen Danielson has been in conversation with Davidson regarding the implementation of a private model and said students still have to be kept at the forefront.

“Ensuring that they’re in a safe environment and that there are resources for wellness to take place, whether that be nutrition or engagement in physical activity.”

The school division is slated to contact current child care employees and ask if they can share their information with the winning company.

Davidson is hoping the chosen operator can run all 10 of the programs, but added SD76 can step in if needed.

“Our commitment is that if no one comes forward to pick up a school’s program, we will continue to run that program so that we’re not dropping services.”

While excited by the news, Dalton said the school division should be consulting parents before a winning company is chosen.

“One thing I would hope is that they would actually ask the parents and say, ‘Okay, what is it you’re looking for from us?’”

Bidders have until March 29 to submit proposals to the SD76 board.