We, the undersigned parents of North Salem YMCA participants, are petitioning the Community YMCA of Somers, NY to return a higher level of quality to the before and after school childcare for our families. Budget cuts, policy updates, and personnel changes have effected the program poorly. The families are underserved and ask the management of the Community YMCA to discuss our grievances in a public forum for all interested parties to participate in. The anger and frustration of parents in dealing with individual members of management has led nowhere. We are asking for an open communication between the management at the Community YMCA of Somers, the Executive Board of the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester, White Plains, NY and a Parent Partnership Committee of North Salem parents during an online conference call to discuss the following issues:

 • Develop a clear and concise parent contract of commitment and acceptance of YMCA policies at the beginning of each school year. • Full-time on-site Director with qualified education background. • Point of contact with one individual on-site. • Structured homework schedule and policy. • Monthly newsletter from the director with timely reminders. • Flexibility in accommodating part-time schedules with advance notice, including switching days, and adding days. • Snow emergency schedule restored to include one hour early drop-off for delayed openings and one hour late pick-up for early closings. • Eliminate early registration deadline and late registration fee for the upcoming school year, since plans and schedules change over the summer. • Redirect the fund-raising efforts to develop an adequate budget for educational and engaging activities for our children including games, crafts, enrichment activities and festive celebrations. • Restore the loss of resources in our program at North Salem because revenue is redirected out of district. • Disciplinary actions by the staff have been damaging and not constructive.

If the management of the Community YMCA of Somers is willing to listen to a Parent Partnership Committee, we would like to discuss these points immediately in order to continue the YMCA’s free use of space at Pequenakonck Elementary. Please know that many parents have opted to consider other alternatives for the fall, including another program installed in our school system for before and after-school care.

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