HOWELL — Administrators in the Howell K-8 School District have given the nonprofit Howell Police Athletic League (PAL) the go-ahead to begin a kindergarten wrap-around program this fall.
“I would like to work with the Howell PAL to make it happen,” Superintendent of Schools Enid Golden told the Board of Education at a recent meeting.
The program, dubbed K-Wrap, would allow kindergarten pupils to attend their regular half-day class at a Howell school and then move on to after-care activities, Howell police Cpl. Hal Foley told the board during a recent presentation.
“The parents have made it clear to us there is a need for this program,” Foley said. “Students can stay for the entire day in a safe, structured environment. The Howell PAL remains committed in its promise to provide services to the people of Howell.”
Pupils may be based in their home school for the after-care or transported to another elementary school in the district, depending on the available space and KWrap enrollment, Foley said.
The PAL already provides before- and after-care programs for elementary school students through grade eight, Foley said.
“It is an expansion of the existing PAL program,” he told the board. “Kindergartners are limited in that area right now.”
The existing before- and after-care programs are run out of nine Howell elementary schools, from 7 a.m. to the beginning of the school day, and from the end of the school day to 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at some locations, Foley said.
“It’s going well,” said Sgt. Chris Hill. “We have a lot of positive comments, a lot of positive feedback.”
Approximately 80 children are currently bused out of the district to other child care providers, he said.
“Maybe we can get the majority of those kinds to stay in town,” Hill said.
Neither the current before- and after-care programs or the new kindergarten program are sponsored by the school district. The district rents space to the PAL for the before and after-care programs, Golden said.
The new K-Wrap program would bring in even more revenue for the district, Hill said.
“The school district receives a percentage of all the kids enrolled now,” he said. “This [K-Wrap program] would increase that.”
The PAL is a private, nonprofit organization licensed by the state as a child care provider. The current before- and after-care programs have been running for eight years.
Availability is on a first come, first served basis. For more information or to reserve a spot, call the PAL office at 732-919- 2825. Registration packets are available at the PAL main office at 450 Adelphia Road (Route 524) or online at the Internet website www.howellpal.org/bulletins.