By: Rebecca Hudson
Murray County News Staffwriter
In an effort to fill a growing need for after school child care, the Murray County School District is launching a new after school care program December 4. The program, open to students in Kindergarten through 6th grade, is intended to offer assistance to parents who are unable to find after school care locally and to provide a safe environment for youngsters to thrive, Superintendent Joe Meier explains.
“There is a definite need out there everywhere in rural Minnesota. There are many other schools that are doing some programming and some even provide full day child care,” Meier says.
During the initial planning phase, the school was assured by area day care providers that the new program would not interfere with their operations, Meier said. “The last thing we wanted to do was take away business from them but we found that they were having to turn away kids,” he added.
The District surveyed all of its patrons, the superintendent says, and found 75% of the respondents indicated that they would use the service if it was offered. And so the school set about making plans earlier this year by bringing together a steering committee that consists of local Day Care Association members, parents, and staff members.
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