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News
Charge tuition at Brokaw Learning Center? : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisCharge tuition at Brokaw Learning Center?
| Oswego School District seeking parent views in online survey
| by Lyle R. Rolfe
| 3/4/2010
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Parents who are now sending or are considering sending their children to the Brokaw Early Learning Center in Oswego are being asked to complete a survey that could result in them paying a monthly tuition for the service.
Jeff Modaff, school principal, said the idea of charging tuition has been talked about in the past but noted that a shortage of state funds to support the facility is a big factor in considering it now.
The survey, which is on the Oswego School District's web site at surveymonkey.com/s/Brokaw, asks for answers to five questions.
The survey's target audience is school district parents with children between the ages of two and four.
Parents are being asked what their child's age will be on Sept. 1, 2010 to determine their eligibility for the 2011-12 school year; and whether their interest level in registering their child for a tuition-based, educationally-sound preschool program at Brokaw Early Learning Center is "very strong," "strong," "a consideration" or whether they are not interested.
Parents are also being asked if they would still be interested in registering their child if bus transportation could not be provided.
The fourth question says, "The district has proposed five-days per week, two and a half hour educational programs taught by certified teachers. How do you believe a tuition cost of $70-$100 per week compares to the cost and educational programs already offered in area preschool and day care centers? Average or high?"
And the last question asks, "What are the two top factors in determining your interest in a tuition-based preschool program at Brokaw ELC? Cost, Educational Program, Hours of Operation and Location."
Modaff said tuition could help offset any loss they may have from the state not meeting its financial obligation. Or it could be used to hire additional teachers, which would allow them to expand the program and add classes. The center currently has morning and afternoon sessions.
"If we can fill the school with students who are at-risk or are special education eligible, then that's what we want to do," he said.
They presently have 515 students, with about 440 of them actually attending the center on a daily basis.
The building has a capacity of more than 600 students, "But there is a considerable waiting list for our at-risk program," he said.
Based on the number of teachers they have and a specific ratio of 10 students per teacher, they are at the maximum enrollment their finances will allow.
Modaff said he knows there are parents who will pay a tuition cost.
"Usually when we have to tell parents that our building and programs are closed to new students or that their child is not eligible under our criteria, they often ask if they can pay to come here. So that's where our initial interest came from (to consider a tuition)," he said.
He said it is very difficult to compare a possible $70-$100 a week tuition fee to what other schools might charge because there are so many variables.
"Some programs are only a three or four day program, some are full day, and some are both a preschool and day care. We're only providing an education-based preschool so it's hard to compare them.
"This is why we're letting the parents decide," he said referring to the survey.
Modaff said there may be parents who cannot afford to pay a weekly tuition, which is why the state initiated grants for facilities such as Brokaw.
The school's entire budget, except for transportation costs, is funded by state grants. So far this year, most of the promised funds have been paid late because of the state's financial problems. This has forced the district to borrow money, which means paying interest on the loans.
"We don't think there will be a total loss of funds but we are being optimistically cautious that there will still be grant funding for the families that most need us," he said.
Under the present plan, the district made a commitment when the program opened last year, to provide transportation for every child who needs it.
"We know how important it is to bring these children here each day," he added.
When asked about the questions concerning transportation, Modaff said they always have to consider any cost that is outside the classroom.
"But we know that transportation may be the key to bring in some of our students from the at-risk population that couldn't normally attend here. So we're looking to provide that for them," he added. The school is located on Fifth Street, near Wolf's Crossing Road.
"For a tuition-based program, transportation can be an option. We know it would be a convenience for those who would pay tuition, but we still want our money to go into the classroom."
Financially, last year was almost a disaster, Superintendent Dr. Dan O'Donnell said. The state had talked about cutting so much, they would have been able to teach only special needs children at Brokaw. Then the state came up to 35 percent funding and finally 90 percent, he said.
It appears they will get through this year (2009-10). But next year (2010-11), is anybody's guess, he said. The state has no idea what the funding will be. It could be nothing and it could be the same as this year, O'Donnell said.
The center has a staff of 83 people which includes 17 teachers and 27 teacher assistants and paraprofessionals. Modaff said 59 people are employed by the Kendall County Special Education Cooperative and 24 by the Oswego School District.
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