At the school board’s March 16 meeting Cook County/Grand Marais (CCGM) YMCA Director Emily Marshall gave a report to the school board about the Y over the past year.
Attending the meeting with Marshall was Chris Francis, Chief Executive Officer/President of the Duluth YMCA who oversees the CCGM YMCA. Francis didn’t speak during the meeting.
Marshall talked about the strength of the programs, mentioning it was unusual for a small Y to send as many kids to state in swimming like CCGM did this year.
Currently, there are 1,750 year-round members with an 85 percent retention rate, she said.
In 2016 the Y received 90,000 visits with 6,500 visitors coming from out of the county. Marshall said 423 Y members participated in a program last year while 220 community members also took part in a program sponsored by the Y. The Y received an average of 250 visits per day, she added.
Currently the Y employees 75 people, 15 full-time and 60 part-time, with another 60 people volunteering to serve in programs. No one is turned away due to financial reasons, she said, adding 89 children are enrolled in the Y’s licensed childcare program, and 92 kids are served in school-age childcare.
Last year the Y received $70,000 in community donations and grants; some of the money helped cover membership fees for those who are unable to afford them. Donations also help pay to send kids to summer camp who otherwise wouldn’t be able to go.
While the county owns the YMCA building, under a YMCA user agreement, the school district and the Y — which is attached to the school — share heating costs and some maintenance costs as well as facilities (pool and gym, etc.).
Following Marshall’s presentation, the school board passed a motion to extend the joint user agreement between I.S.D. 166 and the YMCA for another year.
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