Clover schools keeping YMCA for after-school care

Clover School District and the Upper Palmetto YMCA have reached an agreement to extend their partnership to provide after-school care for students.

After evaluating proposals from six after-school service providers and listening to feedback from the community, district officials said it is best to continue working with the YMCA, a press release states. About 700 students are served through the YMCA program, which operates at six elementary and two middle schools.

To strengthen the program, the release states, leaders from both organizations have agreed to meet regularly to address concerns raised by school personnel and parents, such as security and programming at each site.

Leaders of the Clover School District last month during a work session considered whether a private company should provide after-school programs for elementary students. The district solicited applications through a state website through Feb. 27.

“This would be the first time since I’ve been here that private providers have an opportunity to submit proposals to us,” said superintendent Marc Sosne, who has been leading the district since 2007. “It’s just a consideration.”

Sosne said then the district could use the hours after school to offer an “enriching educational experience.”

“Principals like enrichment programs like this that transfer to better test scores,” he said.

This story was originally published March 18, 2015 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Clover schools keeping YMCA for after-school care."