Has before- and after-school care become scarce in Savannah? Some spaces remain available

On the first day of school for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS), Honey Hernandez was one of a few parents who posted concerns on social media. She wrote in the Parents of SCCPSS Facebook group that her family not only struggled with the rezoning changes but her daughter, a kindergartener, also "lost her placement for YMCA after-school child care at Haven [Elementary School, 5111 Dillon Ave.] and is on waitlist now!!"

Hernandez clarified with Savannah Morning News (SMN) that her daughter had been switched from Haven Elementary School to James Henry Coy Butler Elementary School, 1909 Cynthia St. That switch, which she claimed was done without her consent, affected her daughter's eligibility for the YMCA of Coastal Georgia 's YBASE (Before and After School Enrichment) program . Hernandez later worked with SCCPSS to transfer her daughter back to Haven where she had after-school care secured, but lost her morning care. She said the situation has put her job on the line because she cannot go into work as early as expected.

YBASE is not managed by SCCPSS. The YMCA program offers childcare for families at certain SCCPSS schools from 6:30 a.m. until the start of school and the end of school until 6 p.m.

Another parent posed a question in the Facebook group. She asked if anyone else's YBASE was canceled "because of staffing issues despite being charged already?” She claimed to have not received a notice from the YMCA before finding out during what she referred to as the “school callout last night." She later updated the post to say that she had secured another after-school care option.

Concerns about YBASE availability follow the recent announcement that the Salvation Army Community Center on Bee Road had to temporarily suspend its after-school program for 12 students due to lack of funding.

Not enough funds: Salvation Army Community Center halts after-school program, other programs remain ongoing

YMCA faces YBASE staffing shortage

"I don't know that people were given spots and then told they had to move on to a waitlist," said YMCA of Costal Georgia Vice President of Early Learning Becky Lehto. She was responding to questions about the previously mentioned complaints.

While Lehto was not sure what communication some parents might have received, she did note that YBASE registration opens up in March each year. "And every year there are certain schools in the district that fill almost within 48 hours," she said, stating that when they do fill up families are then placed on a waitlist. If families switch schools for any reason they would have to re-register at the new school.

She said YMCA does struggle to staff certain schools at the beginning of each year, but tries to offset that by limiting initial enrollment. When the YMCA can secure more staff it then begins to move families off the waitlist.

Though she expressed gratitude for Chatham County's and the region's recent growth, she said "It does create a very tight workforce for the employers that are already here." She said the staffing shortage struggle has been an issue since the COVID-19 pandemic, though the situation improved somewhat last year. "But this year, it is worse than it has been since we've come out of COVID," she said.

As the Savannah Economic Development Authority's (SEDA) president Tripp Tollison reminded the public on Aug. 8 , the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) will bring roughly 8,500 jobs while its suppliers will likely bring another 6,900. A Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority Workforce Study released in November 2023, however, alerted that the Savannah area's "industrial labor supply will fall short of meeting demand" by 2025. The study did not examine education or childcare labor supply necessary to care for and educate dependents of all the new workers moving to the area.

A Georgia Budget & Policy Institute report on the state of childcare in Georgia from May 2024 said, "Georgia’s child care teachers have some of the lowest pay in the early childhood education (ECE) ecosystem." It noted that the number of child care workers has declined "dramatically" over the over past decade while the number of children under age 13 with "all parents working" has increased by 4 percent between 2014 and 2022.

The report also notes stabilization within the childcare workforce between 2022-2023 as many providers used federal Stabilization Grants to increase teacher wages, although the average hourly rate was still only $13.35. Those grants ran out last September with many care providers likely to run out of reserves by this coming September, if they have not already.

Lehto said the YMCA has raised its YBASE starting salary for site directors to $16.50 an hour and $15 an hour for a group leader. The YMCA also has offered hiring and referral incentives and increased staff training all with the aim to increase employee retention. Those efforts, she said, have led to a tremendous drop in the YMCA's turnover rate, which she estimates to be about 20 percent.

The challenge now appears to be meeting an increased demand from families. While the YMCA has opened up additional spaces in the past, Lehto said the organization needs the public's help with promoting available positions, which are posted at ymcaofcoastalga.org/job-opportunities .

Childcare: Access, cost and quality at stake in 2024

Childcare funds ended: In 2023, U.S. childcare funding ended from COVID relief programs

Other options for care

SCCPSS's free 21st Century Community Learning Centers open in September

SCCPSS also provides free after-school care in the form of Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers .

Only students enrolled in the 24 schools that offer the program will be eligible to register. The programs do not begin until Sept. 3.

Superintendont Denise Watts stated at the first day of school press conference that SCCPSS provides transportation for the programs and Second Harvest Of Coastal Georgia provides meals.

Public Information Manager Sheila Blanco said more details will be forthcoming on the district's website as will a complete list of schools that offer the program. Families will also soon be able to call 912-395-5686 for more information about the centers.

Jenkins Athletic Club unveils new after-school program

The Jenkins Athletic Club , 6408 Waters Ave., announced a new after-school care program. Director Corey Jaudon confirmed that the new program, though delayed due to Tropical Storm Debby, began Monday, Aug. 12.

Its program runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday for $50 per week. Families can sign up second through fifth graders from St. James Catholic School, Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, Virginia Heard Elementary School, Herman W. Hesse K-8 School, Jacob G. Smith Elementary School, and Juliette Low Elementary School while spots are still available.

Jaudon said the program was something previous (and recently retired) Executive Director Billy Covington had long hoped to provide to the community. Students registered in the program will be picked up from their schools and taken to Jenkins for homework help, afterschool snacks and activities such as sports and games.

Families with students at eligible schools can contact Jaudon corey.jenkinsathleticclub@gmail.com for more details.

Jewish Education Alliance before- and after-school care

Jewish Education Alliances (JEA) Assistant Camp & Children's Director Jackie Laban confirmed that any pre-K through eight grade students can attend the JEA before- and after-school program .

The JEA, however, only provides transportation to five local schools and only offers morning transportation to three of those schools. Check savannahjea.org/transportation for the full list.

Laban said that transportation spots were still available as of Aug. 8, with about 10 left for Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, ​220 E 49th St., and about four for Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts, 649 W Jones St. She said Jacob G. Smith Elementary School, 210 Lamara Drive, was bit a more limited for spots, but Virginia Heard Elementary School, 414 Lee Blvd., had nearly 13 spots available, which can vary "day to day" for each school she said. She indicated that Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays had more children signed up than Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Any families interested in JEA's program should review savannahjea.org/before-after-school or contact Laban at jackiel@savj.org .

Families throughout the city of Savannah and Chatham County are encouraged to reach out to local daycare centers as well as churches that provide daycare as many childcare institutions provide before- and after-school programs in addition to their early childhood services.

Savannah Morning News encourages other care providers to reach out with their availabilities and options for families.

Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Has before- and after-school care become scarce in Savannah? Some spaces remain available