EL DORADO COUNTY – As the school year gets into full swing, many families rely on before- and after-school programs to provide a buffer for pick-up and drop-off times.
The El Dorado County Office of Education’s Extended Day Program is already full and the waiting list is growing.
Michael Gillespie, the program’s executive director, said it is offered to grades TK through 8 at campuses across the country, with staff on campus as early as 7 a.m. and as late as 6 p.m.
“At the beginning of the year, we conduct a lottery process where we allow families and students to be admitted, depending on our overall staffing levels and allocation,” Gillespie said.
The program that many parents have relied on and participated in for several years is now on a waiting list.
“Families who were there last year were given priority, but even if they were there last year, we can only accommodate the number of staff that are lost,” Gillespie said.
He said they calculate daily how many students use the service and how often, and whether anyone on the waiting list can be admitted.
Gillespie said there has been no increase in student numbers per se, but there is a need for staff.
“We started the year with more than 20 openings. If we filled all of those positions, we could probably get all of the kids off the waiting list,” Gillespie said.
Monica Elderd has two children and works from home.
She said that while she has the flexibility to be with her children, the lack of child care options in the county is daunting.
“I think it’s important that this issue finally comes to light because it’s a really big problem that people have to work very hard to feed their families,” Elderd said.
El Dorado Christian Preschool in Placerville will open its doors for the first time on August 19 to children ages 2 to 5.
Principal Michelle Porter said they had seen the need for extended care and would therefore offer the option to look after the children until 5:30 p.m.
“That’s why we wanted to create the option of afternoon care. We ended the regular school day at 3 p.m. to create some buffering for those who are on the other campus and go to school at the same time,” Porter said.
Gillespie said families are updated weekly on their status on the waiting list for the Extended Day Program.
“We know how important this service is to our families and we are working diligently to get all families off the waiting list,” Gillespie said.
There are still spaces available at El Dorado Christian Preschool. They are located on the campus of El Dorado Adventist School. For more information on registration, click here.
