Orange County Schools trustees heard a detailed update on the district’s after‑school partnership with the YMCA of the Triangle, which the district approved in March 2024.

Dr. Gammon introduced the presentation and said the YMCA had worked with district leaders to transition programs at 10 schools. Aubrey Vincent, executive director of the Chapel Hill‑Carrboro YMCA, and a YMCA representative described the programs and enrollment trends. “We are up from 419 kids to currently serving 441 students,” the YMCA presenter said, noting that Hillsborough Elementary was the largest site with 162 students and the three middle schools combined served roughly 20 students.

YMCA staff emphasized staff retention during the transition: 27 former OCS after‑school employees joined YMCA roles and 25 of those renewed this year. The YMCA said it has absorbed significant start‑up and subsidy costs: “To date from July 24 when we first started … the Y has invested around $178,000 into the community,” the presenter said, and the organization has subsidized about “$100,000 … through vouchers” so students on subsidies could attend while licensing is provisional.

Board members pressed for details on licensing and program scale. The YMCA explained licensing tiers (3–5 star ratings) and said the contract requires achieving a 5‑star rating. Board members asked how typical elementary enrollments compare to the HES outlier and whether the Y plans to expand tutoring programs such as Y Learning; YMCA staff said program expansion depends on securing scholarship and grant funding and reiterated that Y Learning at New Hope is fully subsidized for enrolled students.

The presentation also covered program variety (after‑school, intersession camp, teacher‑work‑day care, summer day camp) and non‑financial benefits, including the YMCA’s effort to hire former OCS staff to preserve continuity. Board members thanked YMCA leaders for preserving positions and creating scholarship and staff discount programs.

The board did not take a formal vote on the update; members asked staff to return with additional implementation details as part of ongoing oversight.