Before and After Care – YMCA

Including your note to us, we have heard from a number of people about the issues with YMCA, including the cost and lack of communication, transparency and outreach to the community.

Accessible and affordable before and after-school programs are essential for supporting families, especially working and single parent families, and high-quality programs are essential for our children’s growth and development. We understand the challenges parents face when assessing before- and after-school care options, especially when it comes to cost, flexibility, and quality, because as working parents ourselves, all of us have used these services for our own families.

Regarding the recent changes in the Marlboro Township before and after care provider, from Champions to the YMCA program, we share your concerns. You may recall that an RFP (Request for Proposals) was done two years in a row. The first one failed because it was done too late in the year, while the second one ended up in a new contract that appears to be fraught with problems. While it is often a good idea to take a fresh look at providers from time to time, it seemed to us that these RFPs were not driven by a need for a sensible update to an existing contract, but rather, by social media and special interests that seem to have won out over any concerns about accessibility and affordability for working Marlboro households.

We understand that the school board’s role is to represent the concerns of the community, monitor the educational needs of students, and create policies to ensure the district is well-run. The board does not handle the district’s day-to-day operations; that responsibility falls to the superintendent. The school board votes on and approves items related to policies, goals, objectives, and personnel, and it holds the superintendent accountable for implementing and achieving those objectives.

We find it concerning that the board took it upon themselves to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for before- and after-school care two years in a row. It seems this task should have been initiated and managed by the superintendent, based on the broader needs and preferences of the community. We believe the board may have overstepped its authority, potentially influencing an outcome that does not align with the community’s needs or desires.

It also seems to us that the current board members lacked both the firsthand personal and professional experience needed to solicit and evaluate the responses. With over 30 years of experience in public contracting, Brian understands that evaluating proposals requires subject matter experts, input from those who need the service, and a transparent process that engages all stakeholders. Additionally, contracts should never be awarded without agreed-upon costs during the evaluation process, and at the time of signing. Just as no one would buy a house or car without knowing the price, it’s concerning that this board allowed the process to proceed without getting pricing guarantees in the final agreement. Any agreement should have also included rate lock-ins to minimize out year increases, as well as other necessary concessions, such as the flexibility our families were accustomed to from Champions, to ease this transition.

After reviewing the video presentation this past April 30, 2024, it was clear that there was concern over the cost based on the Board president’s questions. However, the responses from the YMCA representative indicated that they were still in the budgeting stages, with no clear pricing agreed upon. She even stated “they will be comparable” to what parents pay today. Yet despite this obvious lack of concrete commitments, the board allowed the matter to proceed to a vote and awarded the contract to the YMCA, and it was approved unanimously. That included a yes vote from the Board president, despite her expressed concerns.

To address these issues, we advocate for open dialogue between the YMCA, parents, and the community to find a balanced solution that meets everyone’s needs. If we win in November, we will advocate for the administration to issue a new RFP, establish a collaborative process with stakeholder families to identify needs including flexibility, evaluate responses, and incorporate pricing that aligns to Marlboro’s family needs.