Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am sending you this communication to clear up some false statements that were shared on social media this past weekend by an employee regarding our Ripon Afterschool Program (RAP).
First, for all of those who are upset by the decision to contract with the organization "Give Every Child a Chance" for our RAP services beginning in the fall of 2026, I sincerely apologize to you. I want to provide you with the accurate context and facts surrounding this transition.
The conversations that took place last week involved a team of employees, including the supervisor of the RAP program. The primary goal of this decision is to increase and enhance the services provided at each of our school sites. As the Superintendent of this district, I am a servant of this community, and my priority is always to ensure our students receive the highest quality care and support.
The decision was made to expand the program to all five of our elementary school sites. Moving forward, we intend to be much more intentional about providing academic support and enrichment beyond the regular school day. This expanded program will operate under the leadership of Mrs. Legris and our individual site Principals, who will work in close partnership with “Give Every Child a Chance” to deliver base services. We will be encouraging RUSD staff to provide other enrichment activities and clubs that are beyond the base services. These will be paid positions. So, if the current employees would like to provide such services they will have the opportunity to do so.
Furthermore, I want to address the impact this has on our valued staff. In speaking with the CEO of “Give Every Child a Chance”, they are highly enthusiastic about offering our current RAP employees the opportunity to transition and work with their agency. Their comments were “they know the students and the community”. Should our employees choose to work with “Give Every Child a Chance”, they will have the opportunity to earn a higher wage than what they are currently receiving and potentially more hours.
The reason communication did not go out to the community is we are working out the exact details of what these increased services will look like. Meetings are scheduled with employees, RUSD, and “Give Every Child a Chance” to discuss what this will look like and to answer any questions.
We thank you for your patience, and dedication to our school community as we work to expand opportunities for our students for the 2026 school year.
Sincerely,
Rusty Clark, Superintendent