“Late Start” Days without Childcare or Breakfast Concern Parents

Numerous East Lansing parents have expressed concern that for the second time last week, East Lansing Public Schools held a “late start day” with no plan to provide before-school care for children whose parents need it.

They are also worried that children who rely on daily breakfast at schools are going hungry on “late start days.”

Background on late start days:

On August 13, the East Lansing Board of Education approved a three-year contract with the East Lansing Education Association (ELEA), the District’s teachers’ union, that included an earlier than usual start day for the 2018-19 school year and four late start days for professional development. All schools would be starting two hours later than usual on September 26, October 24, February 27, and March 20.

The School District does not operate the Before and After (B&A) Care Program even though the program operates in all the District elementary schools. Instead, it is run through the City of East Lansing’s Parks and Recreation Department. 

In August, Superintendent Dori Leyko announced that Before Care would not be offered for the September 16 late start day, but she expressed hope that the City would be able to staff the extra hours on the next date. That did not happen.

For elementary school kids, a late start means that instead of starting the school day at 8:45 a.m., they start at 10:45 a.m. Children enrolled in B&A care are allowed to enter the school on regular days as early as 7 a.m., but there is no early option on the late start days.

The problem appears to be a lack of child care workers available on those late start days who are able to begin at the regular time and stay until 10:45 a.m.

Tim McCaffrey, Director of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, says, “the ‘late start days’ are new this school year. We were unable to staff the September 26th and October 24th late start days. Our staff is primarily college students and the students' class schedules didn't necessarily work with the new 'late start days.' We are hoping to be able to offer opportunities for before care for the February 27th and March 20th dates on a limited basis to those families and children that are registered to participate in the before/after school program.”

Background on B&A:

For thirty years, some form of the Before & After School Program (known as "B&A") has been offered by the City. Today the program covers children enrolled in ELPS in kindergarten through fifth grade.

During the school year, parents can bring their children to their home school as early as 7 a.m. There, they are supervised by adults and given breakfast, homework help, and provided activities such as games and puzzles. The cost is $6 per day for the first child and $5 per day for siblings. Grants are available for those in need.

After school care continues as late as 6 p.m. at all the elementary schools and MacDonald Middle School. The cost for After School Care is $10 a day for the first child and $8.50 per day for each sibling, and includes a snack.

After school care is also offered when East Lansing Public Schools holds a half day for parent-teacher conferences in October and March. Again, children are cared for until 6 p.m. but are required to provide their own lunch. The cost is $24 per day and $21 per day for siblings.

During school breaks, children are offered a full day (7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.) of care and activities through the Before and After Care Program at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. The cost is $38 per child and $33 for siblings. There is also a wide variety of summer camps available through the City as well, for around $30 per day.

Currently there are 412 students enrolled in the Before & After Care Programs. Recently, McCaffrey told the City Council that he would like to renew the program for another five years. The Council will vote on the program early next year.

There are two full-time staff members and 58 part-time staff members, most of whom are MSU students.

Lansing's late start situation:

In the Lansing School District, nearly every Wednesday starts two hours later than the other school days. During those two hours, free “enrichment activities” such as art, music and physical education, taught by Lansing School District teachers, are offered at several community centers and art centers. While families must provide their own transportation in the mornings to the community centers, the Lansing School District busses the children from there to their home schools.

In addition, Lansing’s two providers of before and after care – the YMCA of Lansing and Caterpillar Corner – offer late start care for a fee. Registration is required. All of the options include a breakfast.

Hunger is an issue:

In addition to the childcare issue, many are concerned that the late start days at ELPS mean students who depend on eating breakfast at school now go hungry until lunchtime.

At Donley Elementary, the School Association has purchased a breakfast snack for the entire school during the past two late start days, said parent Bree Anderson. Other schools, including Whitehills and Glencairn, are considering adopting the same practice.

Schools could work within the federal nutrition program to provide students with a breakfast even on late start days, according to Shannon Carney, parent and registered dietitian.

“This meal could be offered with minimal disruption as a grab and go bagged cold breakfast to be eaten during the first 10 minutes of instructional time (allowable under state law). It would be offered (like every other school meal) free, reduced price or full pay,” said Carney.

“I don't think the PTO should have to pay to feed our kids,” Carney added. “The District should step up and make it happen through the food service department. Kids shouldn't go hungry because of an administrative scheduling decision. Offering school breakfast levels the playing field for kids in our District so all can be well nourished and ready to learn.”

Leyko responded to a Facebook discussion on the issue of hunger on late start days by promising that the District would “definitely address the breakfast concern for the February and March late-start days.”

“It will likely be a grab-and-go option as the first lunch service at every elementary school is 30-45 minutes after the start time on these days,” Leyko wrote. “Thanks to all of you who are brainstorming ideas, advocating for our students, and assuming good intentions of the District.”

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