Parent volunteers have managed the out-of-school-hours service at Haberfield Public School (HOOSH) for more than 20 years — but it could soon be run for profit.
"What's at stake is we're going to lose our parent-run, not-for-profit after-school service and it's going to be replaced by a private operator," said parent and HOOSH committee member Peter Erken.
"Instead of putting money back into extra programs, that money will go towards profit."
Last month, the peak organisation for out-of-school hours care (OOSH) said principals at several NSW schools were treating aftercare as a "cash cow".
Earlier this month, parents received a letter from the Education Department informing them it was inviting tenders to run the school's aftercare service.
The Department said HOOSH's licence had expired in December 2013 and that more than two years of talks had failed to produce a new agreement.
The letter said the decision to go to tender had been taken after community consultation.
"Parents want and need to be able to have a say, this is public education," she said.
"They want to be able to help, they want to be able to talk about the kind of programs that are offered.
"It does feel like parents are being shut out from that crucial involvement in school education and aftercare."
The Supreme Court is also being asked to rule on who owns the school's aftercare building.
The parents say they raised the money to buy it and they will remove it from the school if they lose the aftercare contract.
"We've maintained the building, we've paid for it outright and the school has not been asked to contribute to that," Ms Donaldson said.
In a letter to parents, the Education Department said it owned the building.
"The building HOOSH Inc operates from belongs to the Department as agreed under the original licence agreement to which it was signatory," it said in the letter sent to parents.
The Department of Education has been summonsed to appear in the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday.
In the meantime, it is reassuring families they would not be left without before and after-school care for their children.
With 150 students on the waiting list for aftercare at Haberfield Public, parents are anxious about what lies ahead.
"I'm a bit worried about the loss of places and I just really hope that aftercare and the school can sort something out together," parent Emma Dupal said.
"What's at stake is we're going to lose our parent-run, not-for-profit after-school service and it's going to be replaced by a private operator," said parent and HOOSH committee member Peter Erken.
"Instead of putting money back into extra programs, that money will go towards profit."
Last month, the peak organisation for out-of-school hours care (OOSH) said principals at several NSW schools were treating aftercare as a "cash cow".
Earlier this month, parents received a letter from the Education Department informing them it was inviting tenders to run the school's aftercare service.
The Department said HOOSH's licence had expired in December 2013 and that more than two years of talks had failed to produce a new agreement.
The letter said the decision to go to tender had been taken after community consultation.
Parent views overlooked, volunteers say
But the president of HOOSH, Amy Donaldson, said the views of parents were being overlooked."Parents want and need to be able to have a say, this is public education," she said.
"They want to be able to help, they want to be able to talk about the kind of programs that are offered.
"It does feel like parents are being shut out from that crucial involvement in school education and aftercare."
The Supreme Court is also being asked to rule on who owns the school's aftercare building.
The parents say they raised the money to buy it and they will remove it from the school if they lose the aftercare contract.
In a letter to parents, the Education Department said it owned the building.
"The building HOOSH Inc operates from belongs to the Department as agreed under the original licence agreement to which it was signatory," it said in the letter sent to parents.
The Department of Education has been summonsed to appear in the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday.
In the meantime, it is reassuring families they would not be left without before and after-school care for their children.
With 150 students on the waiting list for aftercare at Haberfield Public, parents are anxious about what lies ahead.
"I'm a bit worried about the loss of places and I just really hope that aftercare and the school can sort something out together," parent Emma Dupal said.
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