A three-year agreement which gives the Octorara YMCA the use of Octorara School District facilities while allowing the YMCA to pay for the rental fees by instead providing services to the school district received unanimous Octorara School Board approval Feb. 15.
The YMCA will use school gymnasiums, playgrounds and cafeterias for its programs on set days and times at a cost of $12,100.
In return for this use, the YMCA will provide babysitting services to district parents during back to school nights, PTO meetings and spring and fall parent conferences; two reading incentive pool parties; a Lights on After School event; and donated fitness equipment, all valued at $12,145.
Brian Wenzka, executive director of the Octorara YMCA, said after the Feb. 15 meeting he's excited about the agreement.
Last year as the school board debated charging rental fees to community groups, Wenzka and other YMCA board members told the school board fees would cause a financial hardship to the YMCA.
Wenzka said he is working closely with administrators to provide other joint opportunities. He said the YMCA and school district have applied for a grant to provide after-school child care.
The YMCA already received a $5,000 Bigs Program grant. In the Feb. 15 agreement the school board indicated it would help oversee collaborative grant monies.
The agreement could help the YMCA increase membership since the agreement allows the YMCA to build memberships by selling Fitness Center memberships.
Until June of this year, the YMCA will open the Fitness Center in the high school to YMCA members between 5 and 7:30 a.m. and between 5 and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Also, from 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays and from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
The YMCA will staff the center and both parties will meet in June to make sure the arrangement is working prior to extending this portion of the contract.
All Octorara students will receive free Fitness Center memberships. The Fitness Center monthly fee will be $20 per month for an individual, or $32 a month for families.
The YMCA will be able to link to the district Website and promote YMCA memberships during school events such as back to school nights, plays and athletic events.
The three-year agreement ends June 30, 2013 unless extended by both parties, who plan to discuss an extension in private.
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