Community

Ohio County Schools Directs $30K To YMCA From Excess Levy

WHEELING - The J.B. Chambers Wheeling YMCA is going to have some additional money to spend courtesy of an Ohio County Schools excess levy and the county voters who passed it this month.

The YMCA asked board of education members this week if they could increase the amount it receives through the school district's excess levy from $10,000 to $25,000. Instead, the board opted to give them $30,000 for the upcoming year, but with no commitments to that amount for future years.

"The YMCA is grateful for the passage of the levy," Superintendent Kim Miller told the board. "Within the levy, we have designated monies that go to organizations and nonprofits that serve our children."

One of those organizations is the J.B. Chambers Wheeling YMCA.

Adam Shinsky, executive director of the YMCA, reminded board members that the organization had had serious financial issues when he came aboard in 2015. At that time, the YMCA was $1.7 million in debt, according to Shinsky. That has since changed.

He credited three Ohio County Schools employees with linking the school district's support to the YMCA - Attendance Director Amy Minch, who was then principal at Bridge Street Middle School; Student Services Director Raquel McLeod, who was then principal at Madison Elementary School; and Elm Grove Elementary Principal Richard Dunlevy. All three schools are partners in education with the YMCA, Shinsky noted.

"They got Ohio County Schools so involved with the 'Y' that it made my life easy. I will be forever grateful for them," Shinsky said.

"Currently, in 2024, we are at an all-time high in members, all-time high in childcare, all-time high in programs, and all-time high in swim lessons. We are also at zero dollars in debt."

But YMCA also "is completely out of space" he continued. An $8.6 million expansion project is underway that will include construction of new gym areas and a new track, as well as an expanded childcare center.

New programs for the childcare center also will be part of the plan, Shinsky added.

"There is a childcare crisis in West Virginia," he said. "We do have a waiting list that's up to six pages long for our summer camps. We are the largest state certified summer camp in the state.

"We do give Ohio County Schools students first priority, but still the waiting list is way too long for us."

The YMCA's mission is to not turn any children away, "however our hands are tied with our state certification," Shinsky continued.

The expansion is going to allow the YMCA to increase the number of children it can have from 147 to 410.

The YMCA also does monthly programs for the YMCA, focusing on special needs children. Each holiday season, it organizes a Christmas program for special needs children.

There are also basketball, flag football and cheerleading clinics, and some days "are just for fitness," Shinsky said.

In addition, the organization has started a track program at the facility for students younger than grade 6.

The YMCA provides daycare on days when classes are canceled due to weather, and employees there also provide homework help.

The organization also offers free memberships and swimming lessons to those who can't afford them, and "no questions are asked," he said.

Ohio County Schools employees also get a 30% discount when they join the YMCA.

Shinsky then asked the board to increase the YMCA's annual amount from its excess levy from $10,000 to $25,000.

"This is so we can continue to provide programs, continue to support Ohio County Schools, and continue to make sure the YMCA continues to serve the students of Ohio County Schools for at least the next 160 years," he concluded.

Board member David Croft said he couldn't think of an organization "that does more for the families and kids than the YMCA."

"The one thing we cannot do is promise you future dollars," Croft told Shinsky. "But I would move that we increase the amount to $30,000 this year for what you do.

"You keep them off the streets. You help kids that are in the lower socioeconomic position in the community, and you keep kids busy in a positive manner. I appreciate what you do, and wish you all the luck."

The board then passed the motion 5-0.