Geneva schools raise Kids Zone rent

Just what does the Kids Zone before- and after-school care program cost the Geneva school district?

It's difficult to say - and that's not the answer school board members wanted to hear Monday night.

Concerned that the district is not charging enough to cover costs, the board raised the charge for renting out its buildings to the Kids Zone care program.

The board decided with a vote of 5 to 1, with one board member abstaining, to raise the fee by 25 cents to $1.75 per child per day for the 2009-10 school year. The fee is paid by the Geneva Park District, which runs the program, and is passed on to the users.

Trustee Susan Shivers, who voted against the fee increase, said she was "disappointed" in the way school district staff estimated the cost of utilities and custodial costs attributed to the program. The district calculates $19,500 for gas and electricity based in part on square footage of the building used, and whether the district would have had to heat, cool and light the building to that extent anyway. It estimates $18,000 for custodians. The park district paid $35,332.50 in rent. Further complicating matters is that next year, when the program is held at Western Avenue and the now-shuttered Harrison Street elementary buildings, it will be in gyms that are co-owned by the park district.

Trustee Leslie Juby, who abstained from voting, wanted figures projected for when the program is expanded to all the elementary schools next year.

"My concern is that we took in more revenue than we expected (this year), but still didn't cover our costs," she said. "There's no guarantee enrollment will double, because some of the kids attending this year's program are bused over from the schools that don't have the program."

The before- and after-school program is offered at three elementary schools this year.

Kids Zone, for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, offers crafts, games, play, homework time, snacks and more. Children may attend morning, afternoon or both sessions, from one to five days per week.

Board members reiterated that taxpayers should not subsidize the program. Trustee Bill Wilson called the program a bargain, and supported the fee increase: "I can't put my kid anywhere else for $252 a month," for after-school care, he said.