Child Care Fee Hike: Claremont School Board To Discuss

CLAREMONT, CA — The Board of Education of the Claremont Unified School District on Thursday will discuss proposed hikes in the fee schedule for child care services provided by the district’s Child Development Program.

At issue are the fees that parents would have to pay over the next three years for child care services for students in kindergarten and those in grades one through six. The board will meet Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

The proposed new fees are as follows:

• For the 2021-'22 school year, fees would be $456 for kindergarten students and $400 for students in first through sixth grades.
• For the 2022-'23 school year, fees would rise to $476 for kindergarteners and $425 for grade schoolers.
• For the 2023-'24 school year, fees would rise again to $476 for kindergarteners and $450 for grade schoolers.

A district report cited the rise in “salaries, benefits, materials and personnel costs” over the last several years as reasons for the proposed increases.

“In order to continue providing high-quality before and after school child care services and to keep pace with the increased costs … the Child Development Program requests that the fees proposed … be adopted,” according to the report.

The fees charged by the Child Development Program are also lower than ones charged by surrounding districts, the report said. By raising the fees, the district would bring them on par the current average rate in the area.

Because of COVID-19 safety restrictions, board meetings are currently being held remotely on Zoom. Anyone who wishes to attend the meeting or provide a public comment can visit the district's website for more information.