Download a sample issue and learn more about becoming a client here.
SES is Not the Only “After School”/“In School” Business - Or the Only Tutoring
Announcement: Extended Day Extracurricular Activities Due August 7 (Jul 19) St. Johns County Public Schools, Florida
Their Description: The purpose of this quote is for the St. Johns County School District to secure Extracurricular
Programs for Extended Day for... The Northwest.... Northeast... (and) Southern Section... of St. Johns County... Elementary Schools.
The St. Johns County School District is seeking qualified and experienced companies to provide instruction in the following categories:
• Arts & Crafts
• Spanish
• Drawing/Painting
• French
• Pottery
• Sign Language
• Knitting
• Creative Writing
• Dance (Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, etc.)
• Creative Science
• Gymnastics
• Cheerleading
• Tutoring
• Baton/Twirling
• Chess
• Physical Training - Fitness
• Martial Arts/Karate
• Tennis
Vendors will provide services based on the needs of the particular school. Services are usually contracted for one (1) hour sessions on a weekly basis. Number of participants will vary....
Parents of students enrolled to participate in this program will make their checks payable to the vendor. The check will be delivered to the school’s Extended Day Office for auditing purposes and a Report of Monies Collected will be filled out. The checks will then be made available for the vendor to pick up on any class date....
The agreed upon monthly fee for building usage will be charged for all students on the roster whether or not payment has been received from the participant. These payments will be made payable to the school and received no later than the 15th of each month. If additional enrollments occur during the year, the monthly fee will also be increased according to the aforementioned stipulations.
The hosting Extended Day program will do its best to protect the contractor’s interest by following up on unpaid families and will endeavor to collect all fees due for said program. However, it is ultimately the contractor’s responsibility to collect fees from participants.
Vendors will be awarded based on the territory and the following:
• Curriculum/Instructional Content -30 points
• Costs to the Student/Parent -25 points
• Qualification & Experience of the Instructor -20 points
• Percentage Returned to the School -20 points
• Correctly Completed and Signed Quote -5 points
Our Thoughts: Several clearly “academic” activities - including “tutoring” are up for bid. The business model for these activities shares characteristics with SES, and has several operating advantages. Like SES, the staff required for these services are available in the schools served. But here, payments are made by parents up front, rather than by the state after certifying attendance. There is no requirement to improve student performance on state tests.
For a firm already serving St. Johns, this is a service extension. The management, marketing and operating infrastructure is in place. Most of any operating margin goes straight to the bottom line.
One way to think about this contract is getting paid for marketing rather than paying for it. Frankly, the parents of a kid who has had a good extracurricular experience in any one of the areas covered in the RFP are likely to use the same firm for SES and recommend it to their neighbors. ••••