VII (D) Discussion: Before/After School Program - Payment/Scholarship Programs Agenda 11-16-99
Item VII D
"CENTER OF GOOD LIVING-PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE" MAYOR•COMMISSIONER
Ocoee S. SCOTT VANDERGRIFT
°� OF OCOEE
, y COMMISSIONERS
'r ry-
CITY
DANNY HOWELL
v 0 150 N. LAKESHORE DRIVE SCOTT ANDERSON
OCOEE,FLORIDA 34761-2258 RUSTY JOHNSON
(407)654-1608 NANCY J.PARKER
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Of GOOD •
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CITY MANAGER
ELLIS SHAPIRO
STAFF REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and
Board of Commissioners
From: Bruce Nordquist, CLP, Recreation Director
Date: November 10, 1999
RE: Before/After School Program
1. Payment Policy
2. Scholarship Program
Issue: To discuss installing a"Payment Policy" and/or "Scholarship Program" in the before/after
school program.
1. Payment Policy:
Background:
There is a collection problem that exists concerning the payment policy of the before/after school
program. Parents are routinely asked verbally and through written letters to make payments but
continue to neglect our pleas. A written policy in place would allow the Recreation staff more
leverage for collection because it would put pressure on parents to pay fees or their children will
not be allowed to participate in the program. The program cost is only $15.00 per week for the
after school program and $10.00 per week for the before school program. We feel this price is
quite reasonable in light of the price of other before/after school programs available in and
around the City.
Recommendation:
Attached please find a proposed written payment policy, which states that all payments must be
collected by the Friday of the week that the child attended in order for the Recreation Department
to pick up their child the following Monday. The staff recommends this policy and/or any
suggestions the commission has regarding these issues.
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2. Scholarship Program:
Background:
Related to the payment policy is the issue that approximately 20% of the children attending the
before/after school program are from families that are having a difficult time paying these.fees.
Thus,there is a significant need for a scholarship for this tax funded program. The staff has done
a survey regarding scholarship programs in the area. Most cities do not have any scholarship
programs in effect. Staff spoke to two cities that do have programs in effect. One city uses the
free lunch program as their determining criteria and the other city looks at the family's entire
situation and makes their decision on a case by case basis. This second approach is a less
efficient and time-consuming manner of determining need. For your information, a family of
three needs to earn $25,000 per year or less to qualify for the free lunch program.
Staff Recommendation:
Attached please find the requirements for the free lunch program for the Orange County Schools.
Staff believes that the free lunch criteria is the most fair and equitable manner of implementing a
scholarship program. Target families and their children could be quickly identified and
assistance impartially provided. The staff recommends these policies be adopted.
BN/mdb
OCOEE RECREATION DEPARTMENT
BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
PAYMENT POLICY
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PROPOSED PAYMENT POLICY:
Payment in full must be made by 6:00 p.m. on the Friday of the week your
child attends the program in order for your child to attend the following
week. If payment in full is not received by Friday evening, the person
authorized to pick up that child on Friday afternoon will be required to sign
a letter acknowledging the non-payment and non-attendance on the
following Monday.
OCOEE RECREATION DEPARTMENT
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
BEFORE/AFTER PROGRAM
DEFINITION: Scholarship program offers children in the before/after
school care to have fees waived because of their
inability to afford payment of fees.
QUALIFICATIONS: (a) The child must be currently on the free lunch
program at their school, or
(b) The child is a foster child or ward of the state.
CRITERIA:
• Scholarships start on Jan. 1st and run through Dec. 31 Pt.
• If a child is on the scholarship program and fails to attend for a
period of three weeks, the scholarship will be forfeited.
• If the child should come back to the program, they must reapply.
ADMINISTRATOR: All decisions will be made by the Recreation Supervisor.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
INFORMATION SURVEY
L WEST ORANGE YMCA
FEES: $87.00 per week per child for members
$120.00 per child per week for non-members
Collected one week in advance
HOURS: 7:00a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
$5.00 per minute late fee
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
No child is turned down and charges are based on household income
2. WINTER GARDEN RECREATION DEPARTMENT
FEES: $35.00 per week per child for residents
$40.00 per child per week for non-residents
HOURS: 7:30a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
$5.00 per minute late fee
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
If a child is in the free lunch program they are accepted
3. CITY OF ORLANDO
FEES: $40.00 per week per child for residents
$50.00 per child per week for non-residents
Collected in advance. If parent does not pay, child does not attend.
HOURS: 7:30a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
1. Parent must complete application
2. Must be a City resident
3. If child is a foster child or a ward of the state, fees are automatically
waived.
4. If on TANF or food stamps, fees are waived, but must show proof
5. Low income are based on household income and are either reduced
50% or free.
4. CITY OF KISSIMMEE
FEES: $110.00 per two week session per child
HOURS: 7:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
None