Red Hill families urge board to preserve Extended Day Program amid procurement delays

Parents and staff from Red Hill Elementary told the Albemarle County Public Schools board that procurement delays and late notification threaten the school’s Extended Day Program (EDP), a wraparound afterschool service that many families rely on to maintain employment.

Heather Tierney, a Red Hill parent and president of the Red Hill PTO, said the statement she read had been signed by 47 community members and that most other county schools already have EDP plans in place for 2026–27. "The Red Hill community is deeply concerned that the EDP program is not currently planned for the 2026 2027 school year," she said, adding that Red Hill is a Title I, rural school with few transportation or childcare alternatives.

Allison Keenan, the Red Hill EDP site facilitator for five years, described close personal relationships between EDP staff and families and warned that licensing and contracting timelines can take up to 90 days — which could leave families without child care at the start of the school year. The Red Hill school counselor also urged the board to reconsider eliminating the EDP, saying the current EDP staff are trained to implement 504 plans and support students with medical needs.

In response, Dr. Kaiser said the division is working with community partners and that Scottsville’s program will partner with the Boys & Girls Club; he said Red Hill outreach and an open house will follow completion of the county procurement process. He confirmed messaging would be sent to families and that the EDP office would provide direct notification and an event flyer once procurement steps permit.

Speakers asked that the board provide immediate confirmation that an EDP site will operate at Red Hill in 2026–27, and that the division involve families and staff in solution design rather than rely solely on outside vendors. Several speakers warned that a vendor chosen on price alone may not maintain training standards or continuity for children with 504/IEP needs.

Board members acknowledged the concerns and said staff will coordinate outreach and follow-up; no formal vote on the program’s status occurred in the public portion of the meeting. The administration said procurement must be completed before contracts can be finalized and pledged to provide families with timely updates.

The board’s next steps were to take the Red Hill letter under advisement, coordinate with county procurement and the ASES committee, and provide further information to the Red Hill school community as soon as practicable.