BULLITT COUNTY, Ky. — In a unanimous vote, the Bullitt County school board approved a new before-and-after-school program provider, Right at School.
"They're hiring people within our district. They're hiring people within our county. There is a preference given to current YMCA staff," Troy Wood, chief operations officer for Bullitt County Public Schools, said.
For over 30 years, the YMCA provided extra-hours care to BCPS students. But when Wood looked over the contract with the YMCA, he found the district loses money by bussing kids from schools that don't have after-hours care to schools that do—costing about $31,000 a year.
With the new provider, the district gains 3.5% of any revenue made.
"To fund the facility use, to fund the drop-in care for transportation when buses are cancelled, and if there's anything leftover at all - should there be - we could use that to provide scholarships for families," Wood said.
The district also said the switch is cheaper for most families—$63 cheaper for a student who uses extra-hours care three days a week. For families using before and after school care every day of the week, it'll cost about $40 more a month.
The number of schools offering the service on-site is also expanding from nine to 12.
Some parents voiced their displeasure at a board meeting Monday. They said the move was all about the money and that they felt left out of the decision-making process.
"How many communications did we have about yearbook sales this year? How many communications did we have about state funding crises? All of that. So when we wanna get told something, we get told it. And when we don't, that sounds sketchy to me," Erika Wilkes, BCPS parent, said.
Parents like her wanted more notice, but the board did hold an info session about the change on Feb. 5.
Louisville's YMCA CEO was disappointed to lose the contract, but the district still hopes to cooperate with them in the future.
"We do want to continue that partnership," Wood said. "And I hope folks will understand the reason we did this was not about the money. It was about providing the best thing we can for our families and our students."
The next board meeting for BCPS is March 26 at 5:00 p.m.
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