SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. The Morse After-School Program has been reinstated after a substantial effort by parents to get the Sleepy Hollow Board of Trustees to reconsider their action of cutting it from the villages budget.
Program fees will be increasing as part of the reinstatement: Sleepy Hollow residents will pay $190 per child per month. Tarrytown residents will pay $275 per child per month.
The decision to readopt the program was approved in a majority vote. Trustee David Schroedel voted against the measure, saying he thought the numbers were fuzzy and he didnt see the commitment from parents.
I am extremely excited and thankful that the Board of Trustees has decided to pass the After-School Program, Recreation Supervisor Robin Pell said. The prices have changed for people, but were trying to get sponsorships and people to help out with the pricing.
The Parks and Recreation Committee recommended the reinstatement with the understanding that the 40 children who enroll in the program will commit to the full 10 months. The committee has also worked out several new procedures for the program, which include parents having to pay for the first and last month at the beginning of the school year. Children who drop out of the program early forfeit the last months payment.
Other changes to the program include requiring parents to enroll and pay for the program through Village Hall. Payment for each month will be due on the 20th of the preceding month. Additionally, students will sign in for each day they come to the program.
I think this is as best as we can come to it, Trustee Bruce Campbell said. Campbell added that hes confident in the procedures that have been put in place.
The Parks and Recreation Committee used last years figures to come up with the fee increase. They added a 10 percent contingency fee and factored in the possibility of four dropouts. Campbell added that the numbers work out so that the village has the possibility of making an extra $5,000, which the committee has said should be put back into to the Recreation Department if thats the case.
Pell noted that there has been an outpouring of people who want to enroll their children in the program. Two parents have already prepaid for their children. A total of 37 children have signed up for the program.
Were hoping well get way over that before this is all over, Pell said.
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