The Marlton Recreation Department’s “Triple A After” program is on its way out in the township, the first casualty of an investigation to see which township programs cost Evesham taxpayers the most money.
Hosted by the rec department, the program offers after school activities and supervision for middle school aged students. Currently, it has 15 students enrolled in the program, but is “hemorrhaging money,” explained Mayor Brown. The cost is $8 per day per student.
The program will be dissolved after the final day of school in June. It cost taxpayers over $7,100 last year, Cromie said, when similar programs from the rec department actually bring in positive revenue for the township.
But what are the students going to do that are currently enrolled in the program for next year, asked Lynne Kizpolski, whose daughter spends her afternoons at the program.
“I’m sad to see that our children have been turned into nothing more than a budget number,” she said.
It’s losing significant money, Brown said, as well as the Kindercare program hosted by the rec department. Enrollment has dropped drastically for both programs for the past several years, he said.
The township is exploring and negotiating options with the Evesham Township K-8 School District to open its ECC program up to middle school students, Brown said.
“It’s our belief that this service should be provided by the school district,” Brown said. “We’re eliminating all types of programs that aren’t in the township’s core services that are hemorrhaging money.”
