But to do that, the centers had to reduce their enrollment — typically in half — because the student to teacher ratio dropped to 6-to-1 to comply with the governor’s social distancing restrictions.
Now the directors are concerned what will happen when more businesses in the state are permitted to open, thus increasing the need for day cares and bringing children who have been quarantined in their homes back into public places.
The Greater Miami Valley YMCA operates two local pandemic centers: Atrium Family YMCA that serves children 6 weeks to 12 years old, and the Fitton Family YMCA that serves children 3-12 years old.
The YMCA has less than 100 children at the two centers, and Kimberly Munafo, communications director, said offiials “stand ready” for additional enrollment when the governor allows more Ohioans to return to their workplaces.
She said the need for day care for children of health care workers has increased because hospitals are permitted to perform elective surgeries.
Munafo encouraged parents who are returning to work to contact the local YMCA to reserve a spot on the day care waiting list.
The pandemic is costing the YMCA about $25,000 per week in lost revenue to operate the pandemic childcare service, said Woody Fitton, Greater Miami Valley YMCA president and CEO. The YMCA staff has called its members — more than 8,000 households — checking in on them and requesting that while the Y is closed, the members consider converting their monthly membership dues to a donation.
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He called this “absolutely critical” because of the significantly reduced ratio from one teacher to six children.
The Y is applying for grants to help offset the loss, he said.
April Rickett, assistant director of Young Leaders Learning Center in Hamilton, said the center has 25 children, half of its normal enrollment. Of those, she said five were enrolled there before it was classified as a pandemic center.
Rickett said her major concern is what happens when those children who have been quarantined at home return to the center.
To reduce the risk of spreading germs, Rickett said the staff has “stepped up our game” regarding cleanliness and precautions. She said door handles and light switches are constantly sanitized, parents are not allowed in the facility and temperatures of the staff and children are taken and recorded daily.
So far, Rickett said, no one has been sick at the center.
The First Baptist Church Day Care is the second pandemic center operating in Middletown, said Cyndi Sparks, director there for 30 years.
She said COVID-19 has created “a different world” at the day care. The center went from serving 100 children to 48 because only six children are allowed in each classroom. As a precaution, Sparks said, parents are not allowed in the building, and all meals are eaten in the classrooms.
Not wanting to contact the coronavirus, Sparks rarely leaves her house unless it’s to the grocery store or gas station.
“The hardest part is not seeing our families,” Sparks said. “But we are not the worst people off.”
Forty area day cares have been certified as pandemic centers. Here is the number of centers in each community:
West Chester Twp.: 9
Hamilton: 8
Fairfield: 4
Liberty Twp.: 3
Monroe: 3
Middletown: 2
Oxford: 1
SOURCE: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
TELLING YOUR STORIES
We’re looking to profile people throughout our coverage area about how the coronavirus is impacting your daily life. If you’re interested in sharing your story about how you’re affected or adapting to the situation, call Journal-News reporter Rick McCrabb at 513-483-5216 or email rick.mccrabb@coxinc.com.
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