Springfield’s school re-entry plan calls for students in the hybrid learning model to go to classes in-person two days a week. The other days will be virtual instruction.
Springfield’s re-entry plan calls for students whose last names start with A-K to learn in-person Monday and Tuesday and L-Z to attend Thursday and Friday. The schools will be cleaned on Wednesdays and over the weekend.
Here’s a roundup of child care, tutoring and virtual learning space options being offered by some of Springfield’s nonprofit community.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield
Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield will open its Henderson, Musgrave and Stalnaker units for SPS students who choose the in-person learning option. The Sherwood, Fremont and McGregor units will serve those respective schools only.
The fees are $25 per week and scholarships are available. There are no transportation services available.
Masks are required except for mealtime, outdoor recess and gym time.
Find a detailed schedule and more information at bgclubspringfield.org.
EDUCATION:Discovery Center offers tutoring, child care for SPS students in ex-college building
CoxHealth
CoxHealth employees with children in kindergarten through sixth grade, as well as employees at Drury, Evangel and Ozarks Technical Community College, will be able to send their kids to the Meyer Center on days when they aren’t in class.
CoxHealth’s school care program will run 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday. Daily fees will be based on their parent’s hourly wage. Drop-in care will be available for employees who are asked to work flexible schedules, including covering for colleagues who are unable to work their regular shifts.
The Meyer Center will close during this time as a fitness center.
Students can attend classes virtually, complete assignments and be supervised by individuals who can assist with questions and offer support. Practicum students and student teachers from Evangel University, as well as Drury University and OTC, will provide tutoring support for K-6 students.
MORE:Tips from health experts on how to safely select your child’s day care, nanny
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army’s child care program will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and housed at the main office at 1707 W. Chestnut Expressway.
The Salvation Army will also pick children up from school on their assigned days for its after-school program from the following schools: York, Bissett, Bowerman, Weaver, Westport, Willard South and St. Joseph’s.
The program includes breakfast, lunch and a snack. The computer lab will be available and volunteers and staff will provide schoolwork and homework assistance. State child care subsidy is accepted and scholarships are available.
The cost is $60 per child per week for SPS students, who can attend three full days per week and two after-school days per week.
For children from other districts who will attend the after-school program only, the cost is $25 per child per week. These children will receive an afternoon snack only.
The Salvation Army also opens for kids on single days school is out, like snow days and holidays. The cost for a single day is $15 per child.
All children must have a mask and will be required to wear a mask in Salvation Army vehicles.
While inside the building all children ages 12 and up must wear a mask. All children under the age of 12 must wear a mask while inside if they are not able to follow social distancing.
To enroll your child, visit salvationarmyspringfield.org and click on “after school programs” under the “what we do” tab.
Or complete this online form: https://form.jotform.com/200615987019156
The Discovery Center
The Discovery Center will offer tutoring and child care for Springfield students enrolled in a hybrid learning model in the former Everest College building, which is located at 1010 W. Sunshine St.
The new Learning Support Care program will have the capacity to serve up to 300 students in kindergarten through eighth grade each week.
The Learning Support Care program will be able to accommodate up to 30 classes each week, through alternating schedules.
Discovery Center education staff will serve as guides and tutors for children enrolled in the Learning Support Care program.
Tuition for the program is $125 a week and that includes tutoring and child care for two days each week — either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday — as well as every other Wednesday.
In the former Everest College building, 40 spots will be saved for the children of school district employees. They will also be charged a reduced tuition rate of $100 a week through a scholarship provided by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Use the code “SPS” when registering.
Job insecurity, child care:Moms reporting psychological distress amid coronavirus pandemic
The center is seeking donations to provide scholarships to more families. Organizers are also looking for additional locations to serve more families.
The Discovery Center will open more centers at different locations around Springfield if needed.
“We will probably only need to open more if schools close down again,” he said, “but we’ll be ready.”
Children will be required to wear a mask except when they are eating or playing outside.
To register or find out more, go to www.discoverycenter.org.
Ozarks Regional YMCA
The Ozarks Regional YMCA is offering two programs. One is the traditional wrap-around care for before and/or after school care and the other is the scholastic support center to supplement for the days SPS students are not in class.
Currently, the scholastic support center care is full with 60 students registered. But that might change.
COVID-19 RESPONSE:Office of Emergency Management doles out millions of pieces of PPE to schools, agencies
Since the Ozarks Regional YMCA is a state-licensed child care facility, it is working to get licensed to care for more children. The YMCA is also working to add other locations, if it can get the locations licensed.
To learn more about the program and to put your child on the wait list, visit orymca.org/springfield-scholastic-support-cent.
To sign your child up for the before and after school program, visit orymca.org/springfield-before-after-school.