EVANSTON – The Evanston Association of Childcare Professionals (EACCP) worked together with Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Administration to save the School Aged Childcare (SACC) Program. The SACC was among a long list of cuts proposed by the district to address budget issues.
SACC provides before and after school childcare for District 65 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Children in SACC participate in recreational, educational and enrichment activities, including arts and crafts, sports, STEAM projects, reading, homework assistance and creative play. SACC is operated by trained childcare paraprofessionals. Known for providing optimum care for all students, SACC is particularly important for the district’s most vulnerable students, including those with special needs and individualized education programs (IEPs).
The following statement is attributable to EACCP President Natalie Copper:
“We are so grateful we can save this program and continue to provide an affordable after school option to hundreds of working families in District 65. We absolutely love our students and are so glad we will be able to continue to help them learn and grow. We want to extend a special, heartfelt thank you to all the parents and community members who shared their stories, stood alongside us as we pushed to save SACC and who continue to support us today. We could not have done this without you. Thank you, thank you!”
EACCP represents 44 paraprofessional childcare workers who staff the SACC program.
On Mon., Nov. 9, the District 65 Board of Education (BOE) will be holding a special meeting to vote on the proposed budget cuts that include closing two schools, getting rid of the Head Start program and cutting several teaching and school staff positions.
A rally is planned at 4 p.m., just before the start of the BOE meeting at 5 p.m. Hundreds of teachers, staff members and parents are expected to go to the rally and attend the board meeting immediately following. The rally will be held outside the Joseph E. Hill (JEH) Education Center (1500 McDaniel Ave., Evanston). The BOE meeting will be inside the JEH.
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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
