YouthNet Will Run MMS and SOMS After-School Programs

YouthNet will run the after-school programs at both South Orange and Maplewood Middle Schools, starting this fall. 

YouthNet already serves the middle schools by offering clubs and enrichment activities. The non-profit’s mission, described on its website, is:

YouthNet strives to serve the children of Maplewood and South Orange. By developing and incubating programs to meet their identified needs; obtaining and distributing funds to youth-oriented organizations while avoiding duplication but optimizing existing services; facilitating research and training for service providers; fostering better shared practices and resources; and by encouraging multi-leveled communication, participation, and collaboration, the hope of a better community may be actualized.

Some 600 students participate in after-school care in district schools.  Parents of students enrolled in the After-School Program (ASP) received letters in the last few days informing them of changes for the coming year. The ASP of Maplewood/South Orange will be dissolved as of August 31.

Instead, elementary programs will be run by the South Mountain YMCA in the district school buildings. (A story will cover this in greater detail later this week.) Middle school students will now be overseen by YouthNet. Tuition will not change; and care will be provided from after-school until 6 p.m., as in the past.

YouthNet Director Diane Malloy is “excited” about the prospect and eager to assure parents that the middle school program is supervised by a teacher; it’s a sign-in program; and it will have an enhanced array of enrichment opportunities. Last year, Kathy Hester was the SOMS teacher coordinator, while Kevin Mason was the MMS teacher coordinator.

Malloy notes that students and parents may be familiar with YouthNet through some of the clubs and activities offered in previous years. These include CSI and swimming at Seton Hall.

Activities available starting this fall are run by teachers and are open to all students – whether they are enrolled in after-school care or not. Malloy looks forward to “more robust club offerings” that will appeal to students in all grades. However, students are not required to participate in clubs, she notes. Homework help is offered after school, and students may prefer to study or socialize.

The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education has approved YouthNet’s request to use space at both middle schools. However, the district is no longer involved in after-school program operations.

Previously, the ASP was a collaboration of four parties, the Township of Maplewood, the Village of South Orange, the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education and the South Mountain YMCA. ; at issue was the distribution of surplus funds.

The surplus was distributed 50% to Maplewood, 25% to South Orange, 25% to the South Mountain YMCA (which provides training), and 0% to the South Orange-Maplewood School District. Said Maplewood Deputy Mayor Fred Profeta in May, "The BOE does not approve that formula going forward." The Board of Education provides all facilities for the program (with the exception of the Maplewood Civic House where the program is administered) and custodial services.

The program costs about $200/month per child — with adjustments made for early bird payments.