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The Westby Area Board of Education voted in March to move forward with a plan to offer surround care for children age four to 4th grade as a way of increasing their enrollment through the implementation of a child-care program for parents struggling with ways to get their school-age children enrolled in the school districtwide 4K early childhood program to the half-day classroom sessions when they work out of town.

Parents with children enrolled in the Westby Area School District would be able to drop off children as early as 6:30 a.m. and pick up their children as late as 6 p.m., at either Westby or Coon Valley Elementary School locations where the service is being offered.

The school board set a flat fee of $150 per month for the first child (morning and/or afternoon) with second or additional child rates $120 per month. Fees would be required monthly in advance of the surround-care service, which would be available on days when school is in session only, and notice would be required by the first of the month for any change of service.

A daily rate service will also be offered, at the cost of $10 per day (morning and/or afternoon). Daily rate service would only be available if space and staffing ratios allow an increased number of children.

Since implementing the service in February parental interest in the program has lagged behind early expectations. According to Westby District Administrator Mike Murphy in order for the program to be viable, at either or both of the sites, the program should have commitments of 9 -13 children at each location for the full school year. The district currently has only eight surround-care agreements, well short of the anticipated participation numbers. The district has a temporary director, who will assist with contracting with families and the hiring of additional program employees.

"This is a service the school district is offering to help parents with child-care issues. We believed the program was needed, now we need parents to step up to the plate and help make the program a success in Westby and Coon Valley," Murphy said.

Whereas this program is meant to assist the working family that wants its children to continue attending the Westby Area School District there is another program in the district meant to assist families of 4-year-old children enrolled in the 4K program. Upon request of the parents the school district bus will pick up and drop off 4K students at noon, whereever parents indicate in our service area.

Please contact the district office for more information. You may call: 634-0107 or write Michael Murphy, 206 West Avenue, Westby WI, 54667.