PVCC, Piedmont YMCA sign childcare agreement
On Aug. 31, 2012, Piedmont Virginia Community College and the Piedmont Family YMCA signed an agreement that will provide discounted childcare for PVCC faculty, staff and students. Starting Dec. 3, the YMCA will provide high quality, convenient and affordable childcare at the Jefferson City Center, a ten-minute drive from the campus.
“With the opportunity to partner with one of the leading providers of quality child care in our region and in the nation, I believe that this partnership will be great for the PVCC community and is a cause for celebration,” said PVCC President Frank Friedman.
Denny Blank, CEO of the Piedmont Family YMCA, said, “We are delighted to be able to work with PVCC, our neighbors both in the community and at the Jefferson School, to provide collaborative childcare services for students and employees alike. We have long enjoyed an outstanding working relationship with PVCC, and look forward to working with them under this new arrangement, which we feel benefits both institutions.”
PVCC faculty, staff and students may choose between a full-time Intergenerational Child Care Program and a Child Watch program. The full-time childcare will be for children six weeks to prekindergarten age. The hours will be Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Child Watch program will be an hourly childcare service available for children ages 3 to 11. Its hours will be Monday through Thursday, 6 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.
The college community’s discount for the full-time childcare will be twenty percent; prices are based on age groups. The Child Watch program discount is $3, making the services only $5 per hour.
“The PVCC mission is to make a college education accessible for all who can benefit. Each of us knows individuals who could not attend PVCC because the lack of affordable and convenient childcare,” said Friedman. “It is my great hope that these individuals will be able to enroll starting in January when the childcare center opens.
Former PVCC student Ashley Weakley did not return to the college this semester due to childcare dilemmas last semester. “I am very happy to know a childcare service is now available,” said Weakley. “When I was a student at PVCC for two semesters, childcare was a struggle. I relied heavily on my family to watch my daughter when I went to class, but they have busy schedules, so there were days where I had to miss class. Now that there is affordable childcare so close to the school, I can start taking classes again.”
There are some within the PVCC community that are not pleased with the agreement and are concerned with the prices. Savannah Aylor, a current student at PVCC, said, “I think it is great this … has been agreed on, but I will not be using the services. Even though they are offering a twenty percent discount, the price of the childcare is still $800 a month. I’m a single mother to an eight month old, and that $800 goes towards diapers, formula, and other necessities for my child.”
Members of the faculty, however, are glad to see this deal go through. Kim Hoosier, a professor of sociology, said, “I am extremely happy to see that PVCC finally has a childcare agreement. This has been a concern for many years and one the college had been working very hard to address. I think that it is great that our students, faculty, and staff have more options when it comes to childcare.”
Hoosier continued, “I know this opportunity will be very beneficial for those students who take evening classes and may have to scramble to find care.”
“I’m thrilled that PVCC has partnered with the YMCA to offer affordable childcare programs for our students,” said Anita Showers from Marketing and Media Relations at PVCC. “The YMCA is known nationally for the high quality of its programs. For PVCC students and the YMCA, I believe it’s a win-win development.”
Those looking for more information regarding the childcare services can call 434-974-9622 or visit the Piedmont Family YMCA website at piedmontymca.org.
