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Communities fill need for after-school care
Developments in north Hillsborough convert their community centers into after-school day care for kids.
By JANET ZINK
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 15, 2002
Most parents at some point have faced this child-care dilemma: School gets out in the middle of the afternoon, but the workday doesn't end until 5 p.m. Quality, convenient after-school care can be hard to find.
Some Tampa Bay area residential developments are offering a solution.
At Heritage Harbor in Lutz, Robbie Kilby runs an after-school program in the community's clubhouse for elementary school students. The program was launched as a summer camp last May.
A bus brings students from McKitrick Elementary to the program, which runs daily from 2:30 to 6 p.m. and all day when the public schools are closed. The cost is $75 a week.
Using the Heritage Harbor facilities, children can do homework; swim; play basketball, baseball, soccer or roller hockey; or unwind on the playground. Kilby also offers occasional field trips to such places as Lowry Park Zoo, Florida Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.
The trips are particularly welcome, Kilby says.
"A lot of parents feel bad they can't get out and do something with the kids," Kilby says. Kilby figures he alleviates a bit of that guilt by taking the children places their parents might if they had the time.
In his other life, Kilby travels around the country single-handedly challenging six-member volleyball teams, who win a trip to Hawaii if they beat him. His family has been in the child-care business for 40 years in New Jersey.
He will also provide after-school care at Grand Oaks, in Lutz, when that community's clubhouse is finished after the winter holidays.
"A lot of our kids are actually in Heritage Harbor, but you don't have to be a resident," Kilby says.
Some children come from Villa Rosa and Cheval.
"It's very convenient for people. They're very busy, and they want to know that their children are safe," Kilby says.
Jenine Marshall operates Club Kids at Club Tampa Palms. She largely serves families in the surrounding communities of Mayfair, Lancaster, Whitehall, Ashington at Tampa Palms and others.
Children in kindergarten through fifth grade come to Club Kids from Chiles Elementary School across the street. A staff member takes them to the club after each school day.
This is the program's second year. Hours are 2 to 6 p.m., with extended hours until 6:30 p.m. The cost is $65 plus a $35 registration fee for club members and $70 plus a $50 registration fee for non-members. In addition to swimming, arts and crafts and computer time, children can take tennis and dance lessons.
Marshall also takes care of children from Pride Elementary School at Heritage Isles in New Tampa.
Hunter's Green Country Club initiated its after-school program at the beginning of the 2001 school year with 20 children. This year, there are 60 students enrolled.
"It's been a tremendous success," says John Whittemore, manager of the country club.
Youth activities coordinator Matt Permuth arranges arts and crafts and sports programs for the students who come by bus from Hunter's Green Elementary School. Hours are 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Cost is $140 to $220 a month.
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Communities fill need for after-school care
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