Key school program needs helping hands
JUDD WILSON/Press Annette Folk helps School PLUS students with a crafts project at Ramsey Magnet School of Science on Friday. Folk retired from full-time work in the School PLUS program after 28 years, and now works as a part-time assistant. Pictured: Keyleigh Anaya, Jasmine Ball, Folk, Paige Harwood, and Joseph Froese.
School PLUS students build with Legos at Ramsey Magnet School of Science on Friday. Pictured: Laker Lysle, Erik Brunner, Kertin Edwards, Tyler Simonsen, Soren Eckholm, Trevor Edwards, and Victoria Borchert. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
Theodore Serticchio, JJ Charland, and Kalleigh Anaya color festive pictures during School PLUS at Ramsey Magnet School of Science on Friday. (JUDD WILSON/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — For the first time in its 28-year history, the Coeur d’Alene School District’s School PLUS program has capped its enrollment.
Though 675 students currently enjoy the extra opportunity to read, play, craft, and paint before and after school hours, another 110 students now languish on a waiting list, School PLUS district coordinator Jamie Lenz said Friday.
“There’s definitely kids that need care,” she said.
However, the program must meet state child care center regulations like any other child care center. Its 12 sites across the school district must maintain a ratio of one adult for every 12 children, Lenz said.
Staffing is down sharply from 35 at the same time last year to 23 people currently on staff, including eight part-time assistants. Like many other employers in Kootenai County, the School PLUS program is looking to hire more help.
Lenz said the program needs five part-time assistants who can work in the mornings. Lenz wants to hire an additional three part-time assistants who can work mornings, then come back for an afternoon shift.
For example, some assistants work from 7:30-9 a.m. and then come back from 3:15-4:30 or 5 p.m., she said. If there are fewer children present that day, assistants might be sent home a little early. Part-time assistants can work up to 19.75 hours per week.
Assistants earn $9.48 per hour when they start, and get the same pay increases as the rest of the school district’s classified staff. Those take effect at the beginning of each fiscal year in July, she said.
In compliance with state child care laws, assistants have 90 days to complete 10 hours of unpaid training, including a Red Cross CPR/First Aid class that School PLUS pays for.
Lenz said the program has always had people come and go, but not so many at one time. Pay, hours, benefits and other aspects of the job have remained the same, she said.
“We have a wonderful staff to work with,” Lenz said, “and the kids are amazing.”
Students participate in the School PLUS program from 6:30 to 10 a.m. on Mondays, 6:45-9 a.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and each weekday afternoon from 3:30-6 p.m.
Kindergartners, plus elementary students in grades one through five, are eligible for the program. School PLUS is open during school breaks and summer.
Lenz said the job would be ideal for an NIC student or a retiree who wants to work a bit in the morning, go to classes or run errands, and then come back for a few more hours of work in the afternoon. It could also be a good fit for a parent who wants to have time to play with the kids, while leading other kids through activities, arts and crafts, gym time, and time playing outside.
Each site coordinator custom tailors its School PLUS program, she said. School PLUS is completely funded by parent fees.
To learn more about School PLUS, go to https://www.cdaschools.org/schoolplus. To apply for an opening with School PLUS, go to https://www.cdaschools.org/jobs.