KELLER - School trustees may dismiss Clayton Youth Enrichment Services someday, but not just yet.
The Keller school board voted 4-2 Thursday to table the question of whether to switch from Clayton YES, which has been providing the district with its before- and after- school programs for 20 years, to a company with a more rigorous academic program.About two-thirds of the roughly 150 people in the audience were supporters of Clayton YES and spoke against switching providers. Clayton YES provides extended-day child care at all 22 elementary schools and at Parkwood Hill and Trinity Meadows intermediate schools.While school district officials said the board had until August to decide which company to hire, school board President Kevin Stevenson told fellow trustees that they must make a decision soon."Right now we don't have a provider for after-school care," Stevenson said.This is the second time in less than a year that the district has looked at switching day-care providers at its schools.Last year, the district considered replacing Clayton YES, a nonprofit organization, with a for-profit company that the board considered to have a stronger curriculum. But after parents protested, the board decided in October to extend the contract for Clayton YES.About 700 children participate in after-school programs operated by Clayton YES, and 200 attend before school.The district looked at five providers, and a committee narrowed the list to three, all offering the same fee-sharing deal. One of them, AlphaBEST, was chosen for academics, including language classes.Deputy Superintendent Mark Youngs said that the district benefits from fee sharing but that the proposed switch to AlphaBEST was not motivated by money. He said a committee of four parents -- three of them chosen by Clayton YES -- and four district administrators and four principals unanimously recommended it."All three of the providers were going to give the district the same amount" of money, Youngs said, "so the question became which is best academically, the best content to support the educational programs taking place at the campuses."Clayton YES administrators, and loyal parents and students, many in tears, expressed disbelief that the board was again thinking about firing Clayton YES. They included Mack Davis, president of Clayton's board."I'm a banker," Davis said. "I understand budget constraints and fiscal policies, but I don't understand this. Tell us what you want to happen, and we'll make it happen."Educational programs weren't the most important item for every trustee."I'm not so concerned about foreign language curriculum as letting the kids have fun after school," said Trustee Jim Stitt, who voted against tabling the issue. "I don't want to let it get to the point where it's just a continuation of school."Board Secretary Cindy Lotton also voted against tabling. Trustee Craig Allen abstained.This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.Terry Evans, (817) 390-7620Twitter: @fwstevans