CAMARILLO : YMCA to Provide Before-School Care

Prompted by the change in school starting times this fall, Camarillo Family YMCA officials proposed Thursday to offer early-morning day care for children whose parents have to drop them off before teachers arrive at school.

YMCA Executive Director Sharon Rich presented the proposal to Pleasant Valley School District trustees, who voted earlier this year to stagger school starting times throughout the district to avoid buying new buses.

Trustees voted unanimously to allow the YMCA to expand its current program and offer child care before school at five elementary schools.

Parents, whose work schedules would force them to leave their children unattended at school, have expressed concern that their children may have to wait up to two hours for school to start, Rich said.

“What this does is it provides care to every school within Pleasant Valley School District for elementary-age children,” she said. The programs will start at 7 a.m. and go until children start school.

Under the plan, Rich said, child care would be offered before classes begin at Las Colinas, El Descanso, Santa Rosa, Los Nogales and Dos Caminos elementary schools. Children who attend other elementary schools may participate in the program, and YMCA official will either walk or drive them in vans to their elementary schools when classes start.

Last year an average of 40 students attended the district’s only program for before-school day care at Dos Caminos.

Rich said she believes that enrollment will increase this fall, based on a 50% jump over 1991 in the number of children attending summer school day camp.

The weekly rate for before-school care will be $21, compared to $20 last year, she said. That rate may fluctuate based on enrollment, because licensed child-care programs are required to have one staff member for every 14 students. If the number rises to 15 or 16, a second staff member must be added.

The YMCA will also offer after-school care until 6:30 p.m. at Dos Caminos, Las Colinas, El Descanso and possibly Santa Rosa.