Wyckoff Moving Forward with Additional After School Programming

The Wyckoff school district is moving forward on a proposal by the YMCA to supplement the after school programs at Eisenhower Middle School, Superintendent Richard Kuder said at a meeting Monday night.

The organization first pitched the idea to the board in June, proposing a variety of fee-based sports and academic programs that could be offered to middle school students in the afternoon.

Kuder reiterated Monday night that the programs would not detract from the school's existing intramural programs, listing possibilities such as fencing, zumba and tae kwon do that the school is currently unable to offer.

He said that the board's attorney is currently drafting a lease agreement with the organization, which could be voted on at a September meeting.

The board also voted to fund the upkeep of the intramural program, providing overtime for staff to process additional medical paperwork required for intramural participants under new state regulations. Kuder, who estimated the cost would not exceed roughly $4,000, said that other districts had axed the programs in the face of the regulations.

"We said we did not want to reduce opportunities for our students, and wanted to maintain the tradition of intramurals," board member Lisa Martone said.

The board of education's next scheduled meeting is Sept. 23.