Board approves MOU with Kishwaukee Family YMCA for after-school programs and transport reimbursement

The Board of Education voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with the Kishwaukee Family YMCA to provide before- and after-school services at district schools and a transportation arrangement that shifts the operator to First Student with reimbursement to the district. District staff said the district and the YMCA have worked together more than 20 years but had not previously signed an MOU. The new agreement formalizes insurance, liability and operational details. Under the MOU, the YMCA will operate sites at Malta and Cortland and bus students from other schools to YMCA locations before and after school. Board members were told the YMCA had previously used TransVac for transportation and paid that provider directly; under the new arrangement the district will use First Student as the bus operator and the YMCA will reimburse the district for First Student costs. The district said the service-level change provides coverage for additional stops (Brooks, Jefferson and Littlejohn) that TransVac could not provide and that the overall cost is comparable while providing better service. Board member roll call on the motion recorded a majority approval with one abstention from Kristen Bailey; the motion carried. The MOU passed as an action item; staff said logistics and billing details were negotiated with YMCA attorneys and would be implemented ahead of the school-year start.