The Mahomet-Seymour School District is considering no longer running “Kids Club”, a fee-based before and after-school child care program for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. As heard in the May 2022 board of education meeting, the YMCA would provide child care.
Through FOIA, the Mahomet Daily was able to obtain a copy of the Stevens Family YMCA’s proposal to the district prior to the June 20 board of education meeting. The proposal was sent on May 31, and certain details may have changed. The FOIA request was for documentation through June 1 and the response was given on June 8.
Mahomet-Seymour’s Kids Club included both before and after school care, but the YMCA proposal will not include before school care, although they did note that it might be a possibility in the future.
An email from Director of Instruction Nicole Rummel to the board stated that both principals would be willing to open the building at 7:45 for breakfast, which public schools are required to offer. Details on supervision of those students were not provided.
Guardians will have the option to of 5 days/week, 3 days/week (M/W/F) or a 2 days/week (T,Th) option. The YMCA will work with administration to identify families with extenuating circumstances and families of teachers in the district.
YMCA will have spots available for 100 students. The district always left a certain number of spots for students in the free and reduced lunch program and staff.
Nicole Rummel reported how many students participated in Kids Club for 2021-22. Although the number was over 100, Rummel said the district never had more than 100 students show up.
Number of students enrolled in the Mahomet-Seymour Kids Club program 2021-22 and YMCA proposed spots
| Lincoln Trail Before School | Lincoln Trail After School | Middletown Prairie Before School | Middletown Prairie After School | Spaces Allotted by YMCA (all school months except Aug. and Dec.) | Spaces Allotted by YMCA (Aug. and Dec.) | |
| 5 days a week | 40 | 97 | 25 | 88 | 70 | 70 |
| 4 days a week | 1 | 14 | 3 | 18 | x | x |
| 3 days a week | 1 | 18 | 1 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
| 2 days a week | 13 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 15 | |
| Admin Spots | 15 | 15 |
The YMCA plans to use both schools’ cafeteria, gym, playground and library where students can learn, play, eat snack and do special activities.
The Mahomet-Seymour School District updated the price for Kids’ Club in 2020. Payment and registration for after school care, which will be done through the YMCA, will look different again.
Kids Club Rates when students are attending school ½ days Tuesdays – Fridays
| Kids’ Club | |
| AM Only (7-8:30) | $4 day; if you receive no other services. FREE with other same day services. |
| ½ day only (8:30-12:00 or 11:00-2:45) | $11 a day/$40 week (T-F) |
| After school only (2 :45-6:00) | $11 a day/$40 week (T-F) |
| ½ day and after school | $21 a day or $80 a week (T-F) |
| Staff½ day and after school | $20 a day or $75 a week (T-F) |
| Mondays all day | $20 a day |
| Staff Mondays all day | $18 a day |
| Max per student: | $100 a week |
| Staff max per student: | $93 a week |
Kids Club Rates when students are attending 5.5 hours a day
| AM only (7:00-8:30) | $4 a day ($3 for staff) | |
| After school only | $12 .50 a day/$50 week – Tuesday-Friday shortened days | |
| After school only | $12.50 a day/$60 a week – Monday-Friday shortened days | |
| Staff | $11 a day/$44 a week – Tuesday-Friday shortened days | |
| Staff | $11 a day/$55 a week – Monday-Friday shortened days | |
| Mondays all day | $20 a day | |
| Staff Mondays all day | $18 a day | |
| Max per student | $80 M-F on 5.5 hr. school days or $90 T-F on 5.5 hr. school days & full-day Monday | |
| Staff Max per student | $70 M-F on 5.5 hr. school days or $77 T-F on 5.5 hr. school days & full -dayMonday |
YMCA Proposed Rates
Payment for after school programming will be made monthly. We will charge a higher monthly
rate for 8 months. We will charge a lower monthly rate for the months of August and
December (due to the reduced number of days in the program).
Rate adjustments may be made for YMCA members and non-members.
| After School (all school months except August and September) | Expected Payment | Monthly Cost |
| 5 days/week | 70 | 350 |
| 3 days/week (M,W,F) | 15 | 210 |
| 2 days/week (T,Th) | 15 | 210 |
| Admin Spots | 7 | 325 |
| After School (August and September) | ||
| 5 days/week | 70 | 170 |
| 3 days/week (M,W,F) | 15 | 102 |
| 2 days/week (T,Th) | 15 | 68 |
| Admin Spots | 7 | 150 |
Students on the free and reduced lunch program have received scholarships through the Mahomet-Area Youth Club for B.L.A.S.T. programming or help from the district with Kids Club fees in the past. Whether or not B.L.A.S.T. will still be available is unclear. The board was told via email that the YMCA will provide scholarships for students in hardship.
The proposal includes a 10:1 ratio students to staff. The district cites trouble finding employees to work through Kid’s Club as the reason for making this transition. The YMCA hopes to hire employees
from the Mahomet-Seymour community, including high school students.
At Mahomet-Seymour, Kids Club employee pay was $16.73/hour for their “most senior” worker; $15/hour for the site lead; adult workers made $13/hour and high school students made $9.25. It is unclear if the adults who worked for Kids Club will stay with the YMCA. But the district has helped the organization identify students who might be interested in a work/study program.
Employees will also receive a free YMCA membership and have other employment opportunities including summer camps. The YMCA will also hire a “dedicated individual” to oversee the program at the two buildings.
The YMCA will enter into a building usage agreement with the district that outlines the spaces at Middletown Prairie and Lincoln Trail that will be available to the YMCA for after school care.
At this time, it looks like the board of education will see this item again at the Jun 20, 2022 meeting.
