School breaks are widely celebrated as a time of relaxation and freedom from the monotony of school and homework, but for working families with young children, this time off from school can be a major source of stress.
With the cost of childcare being one of the most rapidly increasing household expenses, families may be left with limited childcare options to cover the time when young children are normally in school. While it is unrealistic to ask that ICSD provide free childcare for students during school vacations, ICSD needs to do more to provide wraparound care by working with existing organizations to bridge the gap between school and home.
For students to reach their full potential in the classroom, they need adequate care outside of school. Inadequate childcare is detrimental to both parents and students in ICSD. For children, supervision and structure are essential in ensuring their safety and nurturing development. The Tattler Editorial Board spoke with an ICSD parent who noted that for young children especially, continuity is extremely important for keeping up with the progress being made at school. For example, if a student is working on their social skills, suddenly being left with limited interaction for an entire week during a school vacation could cause a major setback. If parents are at work, it is important that young children are with adults that can give them the attention they need.
Because many caregivers continue to work during school vacations, some younger children are left without the care they need. Parents may be forced to take time off or make hasty arrangements for their children, one kindergarten parent citing the search for childcare as “a major struggle.” Local organizations or businesses may offer camps over week-long breaks, but these are often expensive and unfeasible for working parents.
To ensure that families with young children have access to childcare during school breaks, ICSD must first provide clear communication on the options available. The district could also possibly partner with existing organizations.
within the community, such as Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), Ithaca Community Childcare Center (IC3), and Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB) to initiate affordable childcare options over school breaks. This type of programming requires careful consideration and planning. Communication, however, could be as simple as sending out an email with links to affordable childcare options within the community, posting materials on the ICSD website, or providing flyers and pamphlets for parents. One parent stated that some caregivers are not aware of the resources already available, and this quick and reasonable action could have a significant impact on families.
ICSD should also cooperate with intra-district programs to address this issue. Volunteer requirements for IHS programs such as Key Club or National Honor Society could be fulfilled by helping organize childcare or babysitting for willing families. Such programs would require little intervention from the district and would provide participating families with a cost-free alternative to perhaps unaffordable childcare. This would allow capable students to hone their leadership and organizational skills to provide for the community. In addition, many ICSD students have one or more parents who work at Cornell or Ithaca College as faculty or staff. However, ICSD’s week-long breaks during the school year do not happen at the same time as breaks for Cornell or Ithaca College, which possibly leads to stress and frustration about childcare options. It is well within ICSD’s capabilities to synchronize these break times, which would alleviate stress for some families.
ICSD states on its website that for its “Culture of Love” vision to succeed, it “needs to extend beyond the boundaries of the Ithaca City School District, and into the families and friends throughout the community.” It would seem that the overall well-being of students—both in and out of the classroom—is a priority for ICSD. However, there has currently been little to no work done by ICSD surrounding childcare support during school breaks. The Board of Education has acknowledged that the district has a deficit of financially and geographically accessible childcare options, one Board member stating that the district tries its best to support after-school programs. While the Village at Ithaca (a local organization that provides support services for underserved youth) works in conjunction with ICSD to provide programming during school vacations, these efforts are not initiated by the district, and limited resources prevent them from expanding to meet the needs of more students.
ICSD prides itself on its commitment to equity, and it can further this commitment by giving childcare the attention it deserves. If a family’s basic needs are not met outside of school hours, students come to school on an unequal playing field. Ithaca is fortunate to have access to a community focused on helping kids succeed, and it is ICSD’s responsibility to reach beyond its walls and partner with some of these organizations. When school is not in session, ICSD must continue honoring its promise towards greater equity for all students.