Many families in Scarsdale are struggling to find affordable before and after school care for elementary school-aged children.  The topic comes up repeatedly in discussions amongst parents, as well as in informal social media forums like "Scarsdale Buzz" and "Scarsdale Working Moms".

There are two after school care options for Scarsdale parents: Kids Base, and part-time nannies/sitters or au pairs. 

Kids Base is a childcare facility located off premises, and children are transported to and from the site. It has limited spots, which usually fill up quickly, resulting in wait lists. Additionally, in light of the need to support both staff and facility costs, Kids Base charges +$900 per month per child for care until 6.30 pm 5 days a week. Also, on days in which schools have early dismissal (+6 per school year), Kids Base is not able to care for children during those additional hours. 

Part-time nannies are incredibly difficult to find, hire, and retain. Parents have to go through the effort of interviewing and hiring suitable candidates, and it is not unusual for caregivers to be available only for a few months. It is so difficult to find and hire part-time caregivers that many staffing agencies in Westchester focus on full-time positions only. To retain the caregivers, families often offer wages exceeding $25 per hour per child, which can cause considerable financial strain. 

As a result of these challenges, many districts around Scarsdale (e.g., Eastchester and Edgemont), are already partnering with YMCA to provide affordable on-premise childcare. Not only is it more affordable compared to hiring individual caregivers ($550-600 per month per child for care until 6.30 pm 5 days a week), but it also offers a structured and enriching environment for children to thrive in outside of regular school hours. Additionally, by providing care at school premises, the YMCA after school program relieves the logistical challenges associated with transporting children to and from external childcare facilities.    

The YMCA is renowned for its commitment to youth development, fostering a sense of community, and providing opportunities for children to learn and grow in a safe and supportive setting. By implementing the YMCA after-school program, Scarsdale schools would not only be providing a valuable service to working parents but also enhancing the overall well-being and academic success of our students. With access to engaging activities, homework assistance, and positive role models, our children would have the opportunity to further develop their social, emotional, and academic skills in a supervised environment.

We call on the Scarsdale school district to evaluate partnering with the YMCA to offer on-site care, so that our district can better support the diverse needs of our families and ensure every child has access to quality and affordable care.