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WH1TB FR= PIRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBE 6, 1991, PAGE 17 YMCA struggles to ke ep child care centres open To the. Editur The- Durham Board of Education'. decision te change the status of the 'YMCA frocm <frsee use'te 'rent paying for use of ichools for programmmng, lias now been ia effect for two montha. Previously, the YMCA, a non-profit charitable ogria t0on4 similar te othe orrn 4a4--s enjoyed free use> of The baard's decision bas forced the YMCA toincrease its fees substantiallyfoer child car. and many oter sors and recreational programs in order te, cover these rentaI casta. The firat casualty bas been clifidren'. floor hockey that lias taken place at Henry Street High, Schooil ln Whitby for many years. 1%e. gym rentai te ho paid te the Durhim board for this program was close te $2,000, which meant that fees had te, go fm *67 in 1990 te, $90 in 11991 te, cover tbis reiit. In 1990, there were 75 children la this pragram. la 1991, only il cblfdrenregstered and *the program ba been cancelled. (Parents of ail 75 were called and pre was the leading factor in teirnot returnlng.) The YMCA is struggling te keep the chuld care centres open mbleicurring financial lasses due te low registrations at the inflated fée. T'h. board of education's position lias been that they are charging the YMCA only what it' is costing them for the progfarns tobe in the schools. It-isour hope that, there will ho a $2,000 saving la maintenance and utility costs at Henry Street High School te, justify the loss of the floor hockey program te, those chldren.' Meanwbile, there have sMMi been no criteria for the "free use' of echols céategory communicated te, the YMCA, and no answer te, how these criteria might bhave chaziged te, make the YMCA no longer eligible. The YWCA loat its 'free use status at the same time the YMCA did. St. John's Ambulance was taen fom the «ftesuselist a few years ago. Other charitable oranzations such as boy scouts, grliguides and boys and girls clubs who serve Durham's chldren, as does the YMCA, are currently named la the 'free use category. WiIl the board nez.t decide that they am no longer afford te, have these organizations use the sehools either? Are thir days numbered? In our view. the Durham YWCA sefls UNICEF cards Once agaoin the Oshawa oerdL *,For 1Iirthi~ infounalioo~ ceD. t1I~ Od~a Y~~JÇê !~s~1~ b' board lihas overlooked the Iong-r coot of increased youth problems as organizations, like the YMCA are leua able te, provide healthy alternatives for Durham's chldren, due te lack of affordable space in- which te offer these pogC a'meslike these, when headlines frighten us wîth talk about our lads and drugé, increase in youth crime, youth suicides, high drop-out rates, high youth unemployment rates and child poverty, does the board of edcaion have the resources to tackle oUl these- problemsalal by itself? Or, daes it need partners in the community like scouts, boys and girls clubs, the recreation departments and the YMCA? In' a verv short timA.. we wiII be asked te eéleet trustees te, the1 board. On behalf of the 14,00-- pole the YMCA serves, the WCA would like te know where Durham board candidates stand on the issue of community use of schools. Are these public buildings te, be closed te children after sehool hours and for two months in the summer because_ the coot istoo great to, heat and light them, even tlhrough the custodia ns are there cleanng anyway? Or, are the a reSurce to be used wisy and for -the benefit of youthml Durham?, Patrick DavlS YMCA Durham Rgo Advîaory Cu AT LJOCAL, MALL Osiw~Centre (OC)-A. large, jolly man rather in a bright red suit today announced he will be staging a s- fhe "Oýha w a it-in at. Ce.ntre.* Sources quoted the mnan as saying ".I'm plunking My s elIf down in the Centre Court, and I'm flot leaving until I've found out what every child in the Durham Region wants for Christmas." San ta's hours 1 Oam-8pm, to Saturday. are Monday Santa's Arrivai, Nov 9th* at, lpm oqÊshIJUW The- El! Capital of the World' - - ....- ..~.4 A'c~Ur 144±kfl.,..,. - I JOiLY M AN STAGES "SIT- IN" pli ---- - - - - -- "A C& vqgl-y omzaoa v W"aaw, vvig vvala 1 - 4AA mA4 mib lo&4«kw stam