Princeton’s After-School Service Provider To Terminate Contract With District

PRINCETON, NJ – Princeton Public School’s after-school service provider will be terminating their contract with the district, officials said Friday.

This comes after parents had expressed their dissatisfaction with the service providers Right At School.

Parents from Riverside Elementary School put in a petition last week detailing the various issues faced by families including staffing problems, security matters and other issues, according to a report by Planet Princeton. They then asked district officials to address their concerns at the earliest.

District staff then held a ZOOM meeting with parents on Wednesday night.

The pre-and-after-school services were earlier provided by the local YMCA before they were replaced by the Chicago-based for-profit group Right At School.

On Friday morning, Superintendent Carol Kelley sent a letter to the community informing them of the latest development.

“On Thursday afternoon, Right At School, our before and after school care services provider, informed us of their intention to terminate their contract with Princeton Public Schools. We will make every effort to continue before and after care school services without disruption as we work to identify a new provider,” Kelley said.

“Effective immediately, each site will be staffed by Right At School employees and a Princeton Public Schools’ staff member to ensure our students receive the best possible care. A transition plan is being developed by the administrative team which will include parent participation on a selection committee to choose a new provider.”

A timeline for the selection process and committee formation will be provided to parents soon, the district said.

In their petition, parents cited instances of safety violations due to “unprofessional staff,” reported TapInto Princeton.

“We are appreciative to all of the elementary school parents who came forward to share their concerns with district officials,” Kelley said.

“I am confident that through continued dialogue with parents, we will be able to select a new provider that meets the needs of our students and their families.”

Right At School serves around 30,000 children nationally. In New Jersey they have programs in Fort Lee, Hazlet, Milltown, South River, North Brunswick, Princeton, Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Randolph among other districts.

In Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Right At School replaced the local YMCA to provide students with before-and-after-school-care services.

According to the company’s website, they offer before-school care beginning at 7 a.m. and after-school care up to 6 p.m.

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