M'town district addresses parents' child care concerns

BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — Superintendent of Schools Karen Bilbao, along with representatives of the Community YMCA, met with parents last week to discuss the transition of before- and after-school care in the district.

About 35 parents, school officials and representatives of the Community YMCA gathered for a meeting at Thorne Middle School on March 23 to address concerns that parents had over the change in providers of the district's before-school and after-school care programs.

The meeting was the first of three held during the week to talk to parents about the transition of care providers in the district.

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

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

The current MOESC contract was set to expire in 2013, but the district opted out early to begin using the YMCA's program starting Sept. 1. According to Bilbao, forging a relationship with the Community YMCA would improve the program.

The board officially approved the new contract for the next three years at their Feb. 25 meeting that provides before- and after-school care in each of the 15 elementary and middle schools.

Bilbao said that by opting out of the contract early, the district is able to prepare a program sooner for the 2009-10 school year.

Some of the schools currently do not provide after care but YMCA representatives said they would work with parents and the schools to help meet the need.

The programs are held in the schools, mainly in the gymnasium or a cafeteria.

Some parents at the meeting were frustrated because they said they were unaware of the switch and of the details of the agreement that parents would have to sign until they received a letter from Bilbao.

Parent Bethany Ryan said she was still not clear on what the agreement entails.

"I'm still not clear on what we are paying and what is in the contract," Ryan said, echoingmany of the parents' issues. "I'm not hearing what the $70 membership fee is for and it needs to be made clearer."

She was referring to a part of the contract that would give the parent the option of paying a $70 membership fee to join the YMCA as part of the registration fee.

Gary Laermer CEO and president of the Community YMCA said the Y is looking into what the options would be if a parent chooses not to have their child become a member.

"We are looking at what options we could give at the moment," Laermer said. "If they choose to pay the $70, that money can be used toward programs at the Y."

"The Community YMCA will meet all the needs that were provided for our students through our previous service, and much more," Bilbao wrote in the letter. "They offer an enriching curriculum that does far more than help with homework. Their focus on health and wellness, literacy, enhancing the arts and sciences, socialization, and recreation will give your children another reason to look forward to coming to school every day."

At the meeting, Bilbao said that the district began a partnership with the YMCA about two years ago.

"When they moved to Middletown, they reached out to the school district to talk to us about what are the needs of our schools and how they could help us to provide community services for our students to help them to grow and develop," Bilbao said. "That's the kind of services the YMCA provides and has been providing for more than a 100 years."

She said that the YMCA started a leadership club at Thorne Middle School two years ago that has been very successful.

"The idea is to help to develop the students' interests, talents, and get kids involved in areas where they can grow and show what they can do," Bilbao said at the meeting. "It helps keep kids busy, out of trouble and involved in activities."

She said that when the board decided to make the change, they went to the YMCA and told them that the programs had to be equal to, or better than, what was offered before.

"What we challenged the Y to do is to provide at least the same level of service that we have currently in our before- and after-care services but to also offer more opportunities to enhance their development in after-school hours," Bilbao said.

Fees for the programs are charged on a monthly basis, based on whether a student attends three, four or five days.

The cost for before-school care ranges from $60 for three days a week to $75 for five days. After-school care ranges from $150 to $225, and for both before- and after-school care fees range between $120 and $300 per week.

According to RoseMintz, executive director of child achievement for the Community YMCA, the program would have one caregiver for every 12-15 students.

Laermer said the Y wants the transition to go as smoothly as possible.

"We are able to build a program that we can work with the parents based on what their schedule is for the program in the course of a week," Laermer said. "There are opportunities for snacking, social time and homework help. In the registration packet we ask the parent if they want their child in a program where we can help them with their homework."

Another concern brought up by the parents was the continuity of the staff of caregivers who would be supervising the children.

"We currently have 21 applications from those who are currently caring for your children," Laermer said. "I assure you that they will be given first priority. We know how important familiarity is to children."

The caregivers are hired through the YMCA and are subject to background checks and drug testing.

He also suggested that parents send in recommendations to the YMCA about the caregivers that they like the most.

One parent was worried that the structured environment of programs was not what she wanted for her child.

Mintz said that there is no set program for what a child must do.

"This is not a cookie-cutter program," she said. "If a child doesn't want to do something, they don't have to do it."

Bilbao said that the next step would be to have meetings at the individual schools so that all of the parents can be educated on what the changes will be.