Clifton Harcum, left, and Leo Domenico play during the Saranac Lake YMCA program at Petrova Elementary Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Griffin Kelly)

(Editor’s note: This is a continuation of the Enterprise’s coverage of a shortage of workers to fill positions in the area. This “Labor Gap” reporting began with a series in March 2018; the economic trend continues.)

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SARANAC LAKE — The YMCA program at Petrova Elementary School is looking for more staff so it can expand its programming and offer services to more children.

“We’ll be losing one of our staff because he coaches in the spring,” said Michelle Schumacher executive director of the Malone YMCA branch that also serves Saranac Lake. “I would love to hire two or three more staff with maybe some additional fill-ins. Equally as important, the more staff we have, the more children we can accept.”

She said the program is not in danger of closing, but it can’t grow without more staff.

From left, Jilian Rogers, Maxwell Poulin, Jack Seeley, Cole Campbell and site director Katrina Dearden are seen during the Saranac Lake YMCA after-school program at Petrova Elementary Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Griffin Kelly)

After a few public forums and a trial run in spring 2019, the Y program started in September of that year at the elementary school. There, kids get healthy snacks, work on arts and crafts projects, and participate in physical activity. The morning session runs from 7 to 8 a.m. and costs $100. The afternoon session goes from the end of school to 6 p.m. and costs $175. It’s $225 for both. Parents can apply for financial assistance if they qualify.

The program, which enrolls students from kindergarten through fifth grade, works on a 10 to 1 ratio. Right now, the group is at full capacity with 30 students and three instructors.

The original plan was to also offer an all-day service to cover days when school is not in session such as spring and winter breaks, snow days, holidays and parent-teacher conference days. However, limited staffing just can’t facilitate that at the moment.

“Right now, it doesn’t cover that, and that’s leaving the parents in a bit of a sticky situation,” Schumacher said. “They’re looking for us to provide it.”

The program does run on half-days.

Jilian Rogers colors during the Saranac Lake YMCA after-school program at Petrova Elementary Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Griffin Kelly)

Adrienne Relyea said she was all set to sign her daughter up for the program but didn’t when she found out the all-day service wasn’t possible yet.

Relyea works as an account manager with the State Farm insurance office in Lake Placid often working till 6 p.m. or later. She said her daughter participates in after-school programs such as taekwondo and skiing. If she can’t do it, a family member or a friend might pick up Relyea’s daughter after her practice.

“It can become a real mad dash,” she said. “I would rather not have to rely on friends and family. I need something more consistent, reliable and affordable.”

She fears not having a reliable program for her daughter will force her to find new work.

Relyea said she’s spoken with Schumacher in regard to getting the all-day service going. She thinks it would be helpful to get North Country Community College staff or students on the YMCA staff. The college was one of the groups that advocated for the YMCA program in Saranac Lake, along with the village and the school district.

She said she posted a survey about her child care situation on the Facebook page “The ADK SuperMums” and received plenty of responses.

“I heard from dozens and dozens of women who are having the same issue,” she said.

Schumacher said the wages at the program depend on experience and position.

“These are part-time positions, so people would probably work about 10 hours a week,” she said. “Applicants must be 16 or older, so it’s a great job for a high school student. Also, we’ll be hiring for one position where the (age) requirement is 21. That’s a person who can take over for the site director when she’s not available.”

Schumacher said eventually she would like to hire a full-time director for YMCA programs in Saranac Lake, who would organize adult fitness classes and youth sports.

“Right now, it’s just me,” she said. “You know, the distance from Saranac Lake to Malone doesn’t work well, and Saranac Lake deserves more.”

Schumacher said the Petrova program has been a success over the past few months.

“I hope that the children are having fun,” she said. “I hope that they are enjoying a lot of physical activity after a long day of sitting and learning in a classroom. It’s really important for us to make good, positive friendships. I’ve heard that the families have been happy with the programs.”

Jodie Wells enrolled her 5-year-old daughter in the morning program as soon as it opened in September. She said she found the price reasonable and also liked having a place she could bring her daughter while she heads off to work as a full-time monitor at the Saranac Lake High School.

“I have to be here before most of the kids and the faculty show up,” she said.

Plus, because the program is at Petrova, Wells’ daughter doesn’t need to be bused someplace else for her classes.

Wells said her daughter enjoys the program.

“She gets a chance to eat and go outside all before school starts,” she said. “Michelle has been wonderful to work with.”

Jaime Campbell began sending her 5-year-old son as soon as the program started, too.

“He gets to play with a variety of kids,” she said. “Some are friends he already knows from class. Others are in different classes. Some are older kids. My child loves it. I almost have to drag him out of there.”

Campbell works as a physical therapist at the Adirondack Medical Center.

“(The program’s) hours are great for a working parent,” she said. “Sometimes I work till 5:30 p.m., and it’s one of the few after-school programs that goes that late.”

She said she also thinks the price is fair.

“If I was still utilizing the (day care) I used to, I would probably be paying three times as much,” she said.

Parents and those interested in working with the YMCA can visit maloneymca.com or call the Malone office at 518-483-2354.