The Octorara YMCA and Octorara School District briefly pumped some virtual iron together, but on March 15 ended a month-long agreement which would have given the YMCA use of district facilities by providing services in kind to the school district.
Acting on the recommendation of Supertintendent Tom Newcome, board members voted 6-2 to end the fledgling agreement.
Newcome said while the district was “taking a step back,” it was not closing the door on a future joint venture under different circumstances.
The superintendent suggested ending the relationship -- which would have given the YMCA an opportunity to build local membership by staffing and running the district’s fitness center and some child care programs -- based on recent administrative changes within the Brandywine Valley YMCA.
“We were negotiating with the Octorara YMCA and I very much was advocating for an organization called the Octorara YMCA,” Newcome said.
Carol Beam of Sadsbury Township, board chair for the Octorara YMCA program center located at the community center in Cochranville, spoke during the meeting and affirmed there is an Octorara YMCA program center.
However, Beam said the Brandywine Valley YMCA recently made some administrative changes and also demoted the Octorara YMCA from a board of directors to an advisory board.
After the agreement between the two entities was approved last month, the Brandywine Valley YMCA made the board changes and appointed the Jennersville YMCA to oversee the Octorara joint venture.
“It feels like there was some bad faith negotiating,” Newcome told the school board.
“I am deeply saddened by your decision,” said Denise Day, a spokeswoman for the Brandywine Valley YMCA. “Nothing has changed. We want to provide services and increases services,” said Day, also apologizing for any miscommunication while the YMCA was “streamlining services.”
“I really hope there will be an opportunity to look at this sooner rather than later,” Day said.
The YMCA is no longer staffing the fitness center or offering YMCA memberships based on Fitness Center use. Newcome said the YMCA will continue to run after-school child care until June 30, but will then begin paying facility rental fees. He said the district will seek local proposals for after-school child care for the fall.
Some residents expressed relief the agreement ended.
“If we can’t afford to put playground equipment across the street (at Octorara Intermediate School) then we shouldn’t be subsidizing the YMCA no matter what name they go by,” said Ellen Brown of Atglen.
“I want to go on record saying I agree with Ellen Brown,” said board member Sam Ganow.
During the meeting Loree Lonsinger, speaking on behalf of the Octorara PTO, said the PTO has raised $5,635 toward a $33,000 GameTime playground system for OIS students. Lonsinger said the PTO would continue to raise funds but also asked for school district financial support.
Board member Brian Norris said a playground would benefit many students and suggested using capital reserve funds. The Facilities Committee has placed the matter on its agenda for next month. If recommended by the committee, the board will vote on the issue in April.
John Malone, Ganow, Nelson Stoltzfus, Lisa Bowman, Brian Norris and Shawna Johnston voted to sever the relationship with the YMCA, with dissenting votes cast by Bob Hume and John McCartney.
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