YMCA to charge a fee next fall for use of early learning program

Families that use the YMCA’s free early learning centre programs in Moose Jaw could have to pay fees in the fall depending upon the location their children attend.

The YMCA and Holy Trinity Catholic School Division have worked together for several years to offer this pre-kindergarten program at St. Mary, St. Margaret and St. Michael schools for children ages four and five. However, changes are coming to the program’s funding structure for the 2020-21 year, which means the Y will charge a monthly fee to offset costs to deliver the services, according to a letter that both organizations issued recently.

The fees will apply to families who send their children to either St. Michael or St. Margaret to use the program. Full-time participants will pay $125 per month while part-time participants will pay $75 per month.

The St. Mary School location will continue to be subsidized for the coming year for families that may face barriers to accessing the program, the letter said. The Y plans to monitor the situation to ensure the program continues to be sustainable, accessible and affordable for families in Moose Jaw and area.

“Our sincerest appreciation to Holy Trinity School Division for their continuing partnership in the delivery of these programs with significant investment of in-kind spaces to host the programs and their continued financial support,” the letter added.

The partnership with the YMCA has been good over the years, said Sean Chase, education director for Holy Trinity. When the board of education initially decided to enter into this program, it used non-budgeted money to support this pre-school program. This means the Ministry of Education did not provide specific funding for this program, nor are the pre-kindergarten spots ministry-designated.

“With the challenging times where everyone is feeling the pinch with funding dollars, the decision that that letter reflects is we have scaled back some of the funding that we have provided to the program … ,” he continued.

The division is still offering in-kind space and subsidy funding to keep these programs afloat, Chase added. The division is hopeful that families see the value and worth of the program for their children and support it financially as part of a fee for service.

It’s difficult to say if this will have a negative effect, he said. Division administration has been in constant contact with the YMCA staff at the three schools. Administration hopes, based on an environmental scan of the two affected locations, that there won’t be a big dip in registrations.

There are 70 kids enrolled in the early learning program across the three schools.

“We still think this is an incredible bargain for what you’re receiving there,” Chase said. “The level of programming that is offered by the wonderful staff … they are tremendously skilled and dedicated folks, and the quality that you have there is significantly above (other community programs).”

There is actual educational programming that occurs at these locations to help prepare children for school, he added, and is not simply a daily daycare.

The next Holy Trinity board of education meeting is March 16.