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City, schools weigh transfer of youth services after longtime coordinator’s planned retirement
Summary
With the retirement of the long‑time youth services coordinator, city and school staff proposed redirecting funds to scholarship support for YMCA programs and relocating Head Start to city‑run space, while considering repurposing remaining funds for living‑wage increases for school staff.
City staff and the school superintendent presented an informational memorandum on Feb. 13 outlining options for Lexington’s Youth Services program after the planned retirement of the long‑time coordinator at the end of the fiscal year.
The current youth services operation provides after‑school care (serving roughly 25 elementary students) and an eight‑to‑10‑week summer camp. The program has been managed primarily by one staff member with limited part‑time support and student volunteers. With that employee’s retirement, city staff and Superintendent Rebecca Walters identified three primary options: (1) recruit and retain a replacement coordinator; (2) explore an alternative service delivery model via community partners; or (3) discontinue city‑run youth programming.
Staff proposed a preferred approach to pilot a partnership model. The proposal would redirect $50,000 from the Youth Services budget to the YMCA to underwrite scholarships or reduced fees for after‑school and summer programs; the YMCA currently operates after‑school programming at Waddell Elementary and serves about 30 children there. If that partnership proceeds and YMCA capacity can accommodate additional students, staff propose offering the former Youth Services space at 300 Diamond as a new location for Total Action for Progress’s Head Start program (Head Start currently operates out of Waddell). City and school leaders said that would reduce barriers for families in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood and free classroom space at Waddell for special‑education needs.
City staff noted uncertainties to resolve before any change: YMCA capacity and willingness to expand; transportation issues for families who rely on school buses or have limited travel options; whether Total Action for Progress (TAP) would relocate Head Start to the Diamond facility; and whether the city will identify suitable staff or nonprofit partners to run extended‑hour programming if needed. Staff said they will discuss the idea with YMCA and TAP and hold community listening sessions with parents, school staff and other stakeholders.
The memorandum also said that any funds remaining after transition would be considered for repurposing to support living‑wage increases for the school division’s lowest‑paid staff (paraprofessionals, custodial and food service staff), a budget option reflected in draft materials prepared for the coming fiscal year.
Councilmembers expressed support for exploring a partnership model, asked staff to evaluate transportation implications, and urged expanded hours if Head Start were relocated to better serve working families. Staff will return with a more detailed proposal after discussions with the YMCA, TAP and community stakeholders.
