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Date: 1/18/2022
NORTHAMPTON – During a meeting on Jan. 13, the Northampton School Committee voted unanimously to revisit the conversation of either expansion of the YMCA childcare program to Leeds, or the creation of a district-wide program at the end of this year in December.
Last August, the School Committee asked Superintendent John Provost to secure licensure for Leeds Elementary and create an ad hoc subcommittee to develop and distribute a childcare survey. The overarching goal was to determine the feasibility of extending the Leeds childcare program to a district-wide program for the four elementary schools for this year. Seven people served on this committee, including at-large member Gwen Agna and Ward 7 member Kaia Goleman.
Out of the 340 respondents of the distributed survey – the majority of which were white – many said they either use the YMCA or Leeds as their primary childcare service providers.
The survey found that most people who do not utilize childcare would be potentially interested in an expansion, and the biggest barrier to obtaining this service was cost. The majority of respondents were also either interested or supportive of paying a higher rate for childcare services if they were able to obtain more flexibility with childcare. Most said they needed childcare when school is not in session.
Additionally, the data showed that there was very positive feedback between the Leeds program and the YMCA program.
Provost recommended that an expansion at this time was not advisable due to high administrative costs and the negative impact it could have on the district’s educative mission.
“Taking on the expansion of the program to the other three schools would add a burden that, to me personally, would feel unsustainable,” said Provost.
The ultimate recommendation from Provost would be to work with community partners, including the YMCA, in finding more childcare opportunities for preschool children, and expand the YMCA to the Leeds program. From the survey, Provost found that the hourly rate for the YMCA service is less than Leeds’.
Committee member Dina Levi noted the people during public comment claimed inequities within the childcare system at the YMCA. According to Levi, people said the YMCA would offer exceptions on a case-by-case basis but would not follow through on those promises.
“Because the [YMCA] doesn’t offer flexibility, many people are paying for hours that they’re not using,” said Levi. “The overall cost of the [YMCA], even if the hourly cost is lower, the overall cost can be higher for families.” Levi also noted how difficult expanding the YMCA would be at this moment considering they already have a large wait list. The reason for the large wait list, according to Provost, is mainly due to staffing shortages.
“It’s likely that we can’t handle pulling this off right now district-wide,” said committee member Michael Stein. “I’d certainly be open to a district-wide program if we’re able to do it and we have the time…I just don’t know if we can do that right now given the tremendous strain the entire system is under and the pressures around staffing.”
Barbara Black, the early childhood coordinator for Northampton Public Schools, said that allowing more time for this discussion and vote would give the district and committee more time to see how a unified childcare system or the YMCA program would coordinate with the enrichment programs offered at each elementary school. “I think that any good after school program is enriching,” said Black.
Later on, the committee also approved the formation of a curriculum subcommittee, with the caveat that the subcommittee will create a description of the subcommittee in collaboration with the curriculum director and teachers. According to member Meg Robbins, who put the motion on the floor, the subcommittee will not seek to dictate or design a teacher curriculum, but offer support by discussing curriculum-related issues, among other duties.
A full list of duties of the subcommittee was discussed but not completely agreed upon. A more concrete design of the subcommittee will be developed with teachers and the curriculum director.