Before- and after-school care programs at four SD73 elementary schools will continue even if a third-party operator isn’t found by the time an ongoing request for proposal (RFP) process concludes.

“That messaging needs to be really clear,” said Heather Grieve, chair of the Kamloops-Thompson School Board.

Parents reliant on before- and after-school care at A.E. Perry, Parkcrest, Marion Schilling and Arthur Hatton expressed concern about these spaces when the Kamloops-Thompson School District announced an RFP was underway for a third-party operator to take over the programs at these schools.

The RFP is intended to identify a community organization or licensed child-care provider that can operate the programs and supply qualified early childhood educators.

Of primary concern to parents is what happens if an agency isn’t found to take over the programs when the RFP concludes in the fall, said Grieve.

In early March, trustees and school district staff opted to extend the RFP until fall of 2027 to allow more time to not only find agencies able to take over child care at these schools, but to also be “more thoughtful” when working with school staff and parents who rely on before and after school care, she said.

When SD73 took child care on as a pilot program, one of the things considered was impact on staff and the district’s budget. However, even with that in mind, there’s never been a discussion about discontinuing child care at these schools, said district superintendent Mike St. John.

“It was all a matter of how the service was going to be provided and who was going to do it,” he said.

As the pilot went along, it became clear there was a burden on staff and administrators to run the programs given that they run outside of the allotted school day, which is mandated by the Ministry of Education. St. John said a move to a third-party operator would ease that pressure and even provide the opportunity for more students to receive care.

He said having all 16 schools that offer before- and after-school care run by third-party organizations will streamline the service and align it with other school districts in the province.

Grieve said every effort will be made to make this process as transparent as possible for parents at these schools.

Licensed non-profit and community organizations like the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club and other independent child care providers currently run before- and after-school care at 12 of the district’s 35 elementary schools.

Before- and after-school care programs are designed to provide supervised care for students outside regular classroom hours, helping families bridge the gap between the school day and work schedules.

Demand for the programs has grown in recent years as the province pushes to expand access to school-based child care.

School districts across B.C. often partner with outside organizations to run child-care programs in school facilities, rather than operating them directly.