Park Avenue Elementary changes before and after school programs

Warwick - There will be a change of guard at Park Avenue Elementary School before and after-school programs this year. The current provider, Park Avenue Care which is owned and operated in the school by Lisa Szeto, is ending its six-year run this school year. Szeto feels her program was forced into an early demise. She was preparing to pass on her torch to her current employees as her family was considering relocating to the state of Florida. Her four co-workers Etta Hicks, Kim Rotello, Amy Richards, and Trish Oliver were preparing their state certifications so that their before and after school programs would run uninterrupted. Catching wind of Lisa’s pending relocation, two prior staff members, Jean Thomasburger and Nan Sausskraut, approached school officials last year to start their own program. Unable to do so for September 2006, because Szeto had already obtained her yearly contract, they again came before school officials this year. This time they succeeded in replacing the Szeto program. Both parties were called by the School Superintendent for interviews. Szeto was upset because she said she did not receive any word of the interview until a letter arrived in the mail the day of the interview. She said the school didn t give her a fair shake. Szeto’s concern was that the lack of continuity and familiarity that a change in program will bring will be disconcerting for children and parents alike. In a business as personal as childcare, any disruption has the potential to be detrimental to young children. Szeto hoped to have her program and staff continue in her absence, thereby causing no disruption for their young charges or their parents peace of mind. Lisa said her staff is more than experienced and qualified to carry on without her. She asked that the school board think of the children as she is concerned that the new people involved do not have enough experience or the proper qualifications to safely run a school program. To qualify to direct a school child care school program one must have an Associate’s Degree in child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation or a related field; a New York State Children’s Program Administrator Credential, or a School Age Child Care Credential. Additionally, a program director must have two years of previous direct experience working with children under the age of 13, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity. All personnel must regularly attend mandated state courses. Szeto has a Master’s Degree in Education and the entire staff attends regular childcare courses at state approved locations. Both Szeto and Etta Hicks are licensed childcare directors and all employees have NYS Childcare Certification. They all have their CPR and First Aid certificates and Trish Oliver is a Certified Nursing Assistant. When contacted, Dr. Frank Greenhall, the school superintendent, said his decision to change programs was based on the interviews. Asked to name his specific criteria he refused to answer saying only that he based it on the interviews. Asked if he had feedback from parents, he said he heard both pros and cons in the decision to change. Greenhall said that one parent voiced concern at the recent school board meeting and that he later addressed the issues. He did not elaborate. When asked about the new program, Dr. Greenhall said he did not know whether or not the women involved had college degrees and admitted that he had never observed any of the women, either current or future caregivers, working with children. Greenhall said Jean Thomasburger could be reached at Pine Island Elementary School where she works for the YMCA s before and after school programs. She refused to speak with this newspaper. Greenhall did not know where Nan Sausskraut could be reached. Szeto’s said that the current staff and program are a known and constant entity to the children, the parents, the school, and the community. Szeto is considering a location outside of the school to carry on Park Avenue Care’s commitment to children for next September.