YMCA tweaks contract for school child care programs

Program will be provided at district schools based on need

BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown School District Board of Education has amended its contract for preschool services with the Community YMCA in line with concerns voiced by parents.

The board was expected to vote on an updated contract with the YMCA at the May 27 meeting.

One change in the contract is a $25 annual registration fee required for the program, with parents having the option of paying a $70 charge that is a combined annual registration fee for the program as well as membership in the Community YMCA that would allow participation in additional programs.

Previously, a $70 charge was mandatory in the contract, but after complaints from parents, the $25 fee option was added.

The cost for before- and after-school care is based on the number of hours of care provided and other variables such as the number of days a child attends and the number of children in a family who attend. For more information, parents can visit the school district website at www.middletownk12. org, which also provides a link to

the Community YMCA website.

Arrangements for one- or two-day programs will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The YMCA may increase the fees up to 3 percent each year under the contract.

The school district is switching from Monmouth-Ocean Educational Services Commission’s (MOESC) School Age Childcare program to the YMCA’s.

The board officially approved the new contract for the next three years at the Feb. 25 meeting.

Under the contract, the YMCA will provide before- and after-school care in each of the district’s 15 elementary and middle schools.

For the past 15 years, the district’s before school and after-school care programs have been operated by MOESC.

The change was made, according to Schools Superintendent Karen Bilbao, because the district wanted to establish a relationship with the YMCA.

A final decision on where the programs will be held will be based on enrollment and will be made no later than June 23.

If there is interest at all 15 schools, then the program will be held in all of the schools.

The contract between the district and the YMCA is for three school years beginning on the first school day subsequent to Sept. 1 and ending on the last school day prior to June 30, 2012.

According to the contract, the beforeschool sessions will run 7:45-8:45 a.m. in the elementary schools only.

The demand for additional services will be determined jointly on a site-by-site basis based on financial feasibility and building availability, the contract states.

The afternoon session will run 3-6 p.m. at the elementary schools and 2:40-6 p.m. at the middle schools.

The Community YMCA will schedule and hold transitional meet-and-greet sessions with parents/guardians and administrators of each school at which programs will be provided, before the first week of the 2009-10 school year.

In the contract, the Community YMCA guarantees a maximum student/staff ratio of 15 to 1 with the ultimate goal to achieve an average student/staff ratio of 12 to 1.

According to the contract, staff applying, hired and assigned by the YMCA for this program will be fully qualified pursuant to the YMCA’s employment screening and qualification processes, which include a background check, reference verification, fingerprinting and pre-employment drug testing.

Criteria for hire are set forth on the YMCA’s Certification for Specific Community YMCA Child Achievement Programs document and in accordance with New Jersey State licensing requirements, including cardiopulmonary-resuscitation certification, first aid and Epi-pen qualification.

Contact Jamie Romm at jromm@gmnews.

com.