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VBCPS and city partners expand childcare, summer and after‑school options and offer staff tuition benefits
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Summary
Virginia Beach City Public Schools and partners outlined expanded childcare and youth programs — including new early‑childhood sites, RISE enrichment, and summer youth employment — with staff priority registration and financial assistance to increase access for families and employees.
Vice Chair Carolyn Weems welcomed a presentation on April 28 from school division and community partners laying out expanded childcare, out‑of‑school and youth employment programs available to students and staff across Virginia Beach.
Amy Church, director of employment services for the school division, said the partnership between Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation and the YMCA has grown since 2022–23 to provide childcare during school breaks, staff workdays and the summer months, and to offer financial assistance that helps make programs more affordable for families.
"This partnership began in the 2022–23 school year," Church said, and has expanded through outreach and coordination to increase program sites and staff supports.
Harry Young, coordinator of Parks and Recreation out‑of‑school‑time programs, said Parks and Rec operates before‑school care at 30 elementary schools, after‑school programming at all 55 elementary schools and RISE academic enrichment at 14 Title I schools. He said Parks and Rec serves more than 2,500 elementary students each day and provides swimming instruction to more than 1,400 second‑graders.
"We are proud to offer a wide range of elementary and middle school programs that support students, families, and school staff throughout the year," Young said.
Tiffany Cowell, coordinator for the Virginia Beach Youth Opportunities Office, described secondary supports including leadership development and an eight‑week paid summer youth employment program for students ages 16–21; she said the office received 617 applicants this summer from Virginia Beach students and places participants across roughly 18 city departments.
Representatives from the YMCA of Southampton Roads — Amelia Scott, Jamie Childress and Seth Foster — outlined YMCA programs from preschool childcare (ages 2–5) to camps and summer enrichment. Childress said a new early‑childhood package will expand access to three state‑licensed centers and that VBCPS employees will receive priority registration, a 50% reduction in the enrollment fee and member‑rate tuition as concrete staff benefits.
"No family should have to be turned away from quality child care because of cost," Childress said, noting the YMCA's financial assistance can provide an additional discount based on demonstrated need.
Board members asked for details about site selection; VBCPS and YMCA staff said applications are submitted for an Indian River neighborhood site in partnership with a local church, a possible YMCA site closer to the oceanfront, and an expansion in the Salem area to serve younger children in the 0–3 age range.
Board members also raised summer program eligibility: Park and Rec staff said summer RISE programs will accept students across the division who meet financial assistance criteria, not strictly Title I students, and that Parks and Rec and YMCA representatives are available to attend community events and school visits on invitation.
The presentation closed with offers to follow up on outreach and recruitment for summer and community events. Vice Chair Weems and board members thanked the presenters and invited additional questions; staff said they would continue coordination and outreach ahead of the 2025–26 school year.
Next steps: VBCPS staff and partner agencies will continue site permitting and enrollment planning, and will provide follow‑up information to the board and to community groups that invite program participation.
