South Gate : After-School Child Care to Begin on Trial Basis

The South Gate City Council has approved a six-month pilot program to provide after-school child care for elementary students of working parents.

The program is expected to start Feb. 28 at Montera Elementary School, a new year-round school, and run five days a week from 2:30 to 6 p.m.. Schools in South Gate are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District and all are on year-round schedules. If successful, it may be expanded to other elementary schools in the city.

The Montera program will be operated by city Parks and Recreation Department staff and college students who expect to become teachers.

Parents will pay $15 a week for the first child and $12 for additional children. A one-time registration fee of $5 will be charged.

A minimum of 30 children will be required to start the program, but officials are confident that they will receive the required number, said George Price, director of parks and recreation.

Price said 105 parents of Montera students stated in a survey that if an affordable after-school program were available they would use it.

The program will be supported by fees, grants and donations. The city will provide $1,000 to start the program. Officials also have applied for a $6,000 state grant.