Schools

ESS Afterschool Program Highlighted at LM-SV School Board Meeting

Extended School Services serves 2,300 children at 21 sites. The district's program was the first district-sponsored program ever in the state of California.

More than 35 years since becoming the first district-sponsored afterschool program in the state, ’s Extended School Services (ESS) Program still sets the grade for similar programs.

“We are definitely still contacted by other districts in the county to ask us how we do things,” said Extended School Services Coordinator Ronda Wood, who gave the district board a presentation on the program during its Tuesday night meeting.

When the program launched in 1976, it was offered at one school site. Today, the program’s 190 employees provide childcare before and after school to 2,300 children at 21 sites. And, it offers the lowest priced childcare of all the district-sponsored programs in the county, Wood added.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

ESS, which is funded by parent fees and in part by the ASES Grant, offers students academic assistance, as well as an educational enrichment program that includes music, art and recreation.

Board President Bill Baber, who is an ESS parent, said he appreciates that his children have their homework complete by the time he comes home.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“That’s music to the ears of parents,” he said. “Thank you so much for everything you do.”

In addition to daily homework assistance, the program offers math games, academic competitions and other academic components.

One child in the video Wood presented to the board said he enjoys participating in the academic competitions.

“ESS is one of the best things in education that has ever happened to me,” he said. “Because of them, I’m now an academic super star!”

Junior Achievement BizTown is one of the programs ESS students get to participate in. La Mesa-Spring Valley School District’s ESS program was the first afterschool program in San Diego County to visit BizTown for a day, Wood said. At BizTown, students operate a life-size mini-municipality, which includes a bank, businesses, city hall, professional offices, radio station, television station, a snack shop and a community charity. During the program’s first year participating, 155 ESS students from 17 sites went to BizTown.

Wood said she believes ESS students excel because of the ESS staff. On average, at-will staff stay with the program two years, while site leaders stay 11 years, she said.

“I ask my staff members constantly to be the best of the best, and truly, they are,” she said. “They will always go above and beyond to do whatever is best for the children.”

In one instance, three staff members spent an unpaid weekend becoming archery certified in order to teach their students. Many staff members also volunteer at school events, Wood added.

“We believe that ESS is the best of the best, and there is no other afterschool childcare program that can top us,” Wood said.

Superintendent Brian Marshall agreed and said that district personnel “worry about a lot of stuff every day,” but they don’t have to worry about ESS students before or after school.

“You looked at those slides and you saw kids engaged in activities that were learning activities, that were fun activities, that were wholesome activities – activities we want our kids to be part of,” Marshall said. “That’s what makes our district, and that’s why I’m proud to be here.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here