YMCA Child Care Programs

Centerville Schools is partnering with the YMCA of Greater Dayton (the Y) to offer after school programs in our K-5 school buildings, beginning with the 2025-26 school year.

The school district is developing a partnership with an outside organization by collaborating with the Y to provide before and after school child care services. Under this partnership, a member of the district leadership team will oversee the contract between the district and the Y to ensure coordination and accountability. This administrator will also maintain regular communication with the Y's child care leadership team to support ongoing operations. As part of the agreement, the Y will supply support staff to the district five days a week for approximately two hours each day, which will build relationships during the school day to enhance the care and supervision available to students outside of regular school hours.

Voyager was one of the proposed reductions when we looked at cost saving measures during the most recent levy cycle. As we spoke with other districts, they shared different strategies for utilizing the Y partnerships, and we recognized this change as an opportunity to provide families with more flexibility while keeping after school programs in our K-5 school buildings and stretching levy dollars.

In addition to the traditional after school programs, the Y will offer licensed before school care as needed. The Y also provides care options when school is not in session, such as all day out care, break weeks, and summer care. The Y plans to survey families about their needs, so we can work out details and share more information. 

The Y will offer additional fee structure options, such as hourly or flat rate, so that parents can choose the option that best meets their needs. Various discounts such as Military/Veteran, First Responders, Sibling, School District Staff will also be available.

 As part of the partnership, the Y will supply support staff to the district five days a week for approximately two hours each day in order to build relationships during the school day to enhance the care and supervision available to students outside of regular school hours.

In addition, the Y has committed to matching employee pay, and in some cases, increasing pay dependent on qualifications and career pathway levels for licensed child care providers. 

This partnership with the Y will enable us to support families by offering additional services, help protect the program from future cuts, and reduce district costs related to the program, such as managing payroll, worker’s compensation, and liability insurance.

Yes. All current Voyager staff members will have the option to transition to employment with the Y. This will allow the Y to continue providing a program families are comfortable with while expanding resources and service opportunities.

The Y is a licensed child care provider for before and after school. All staff members will be required to register and participate in training through the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA). Below are the minimum qualifications to be an approved instructor.

We will retain Voyager staff and provide immediate individualized Ohio approved training to ensure licensed guidelines are met and determine Career Pathway Levels in OCCRRA.

We will hire strategically to supplement existing staff to ensure educational and Career Pathway Levels meet licensed site administrator qualifications so that ongoing quality and ratios are met.

For additional staff, we will hire college students to provide exposure to the education career and allow other similar majors the opportunity to gain experience working with youth. We will give high school students career exploration opportunities as supplemental staff or volunteers from the partner high school as part of career development for graduation seals and allowing for additional student supports.

After school care will still be offered in each of our K-5 buildings until 6 p.m. on school days. The Y has discussed ways to maintain the current programming, keeping it the same or very similar, by retaining the current staff who already know the existing Voyager program.

In addition to the traditional after school programs, the Y will offer licensed before school care as needed. The Y also provides care options when school is not in session, such as all day out care, break weeks, and summer care. The Y plans to survey families about their needs, so we can work out details and share more information. The Y will offer additional fee structure options, such as hourly or flat rate, so that parents can choose the option that best meets their needs. Families will also have the option to pay weekly instead of monthly.

Yes. The child care program run by the Y is licensed through the Department of Children and Youth. All staff are required to have both background checks through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These are completed through Webcheck. Just like our current Voyager staff, background checks must be completed:

1. Upon initial hiring, BCI and FBI, OCCRRA 1176 background checks, AssureHire, and Checkster
2. After any gap in childcare employment, we repeat these background checks
3. Every five years after the initial background check

Yes. The Y currently serves many children with special accommodations. If a family requests special accommodations for their student, the Y will offer a family meeting to discuss the specific support needed. During the meeting, the Y and parents will determine if appropriate services can be provided and what accommodations may be required to offer a supportive environment.

Families will have the option to register for the before school program, after school program, or both. Rates are less than our current rates for the Voyager After School Program. The Y also accepts public funds and offers sliding fee scholarships, as well as discounts for district staff, first responders, and military personnel. The Y will provide the after school snack, which will also help keep the cost of care affordable for parents.

If you choose to utilize the Y program, your registration and payment will be transferred to the Y. The Y will meet with currently enrolled families to assist them through this transition. A survey with pricing will be shared to determine if any other care options are needed. The survey will be used to set up the credit transferred to the new child care account for each family.

If you do not want to use the Y program, Centerville Schools will offer a refund for any funds paid toward the Voyager Program, including your deposit for the 2025-26 school year.

No. You do not need to have a Y membership to enroll your child in before or after school care. Discounts are available for YMCA members, military and veteran families, first responders, and additional siblings. Please inquire about these discounts when you register.

Please visit the YMCA School Age Programs website for additional information and to register your child for child care services. Be sure to select Centerville under YMCA School Age child care Locations to access information specific to services offered in Centerville Schools.

Please contact one of these individuals if you have any questions:

• Mackenzie Resor, mresor@daytonymca.org
• Kendal Cooke, kendal.cooke@centerville.k12.oh.us
• Jeni Pence, jeni.pence@centerville.k12.oh.us

No. Families that utilize the before or after school program will pay the YMCA directly.

No. The Y has evolved over its 150 year history to be inclusive for all. The Y adheres to four core values: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.