EC Virginia News

City of Virginia Beach issued the following announcement on Nov. 19

With staffing shortages causing the closure of 14 child care programs, Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is taking action to try to attract qualified candidates by raising pay rates from $9.50-$14.89 to $15-$18.50 for all child care employees starting on November 25. Out-of-School Time Programs (OST) needs approximately 50 new staff to return to it its normal staffing levels and to reopen the programs that were closed/consolidated in the November 16 announcement.

"Closing our child care programs and putting that burden on the families who trust us with the care of their children was a heartbreaking decision," said Michael Kirschman, Director of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation. "We are thankful that the City is supporting this pay increase to help us try to attract and retain the staff we need to reopen the programs and give these families the peace of mind and quality service they have come to expect and deserve. Community members stepping up and applying for these jobs will mean the world to a parent who needs affordable child care to maintain their own employment and provide for their family," he added.

The department is actively recruiting reliable team members with a desire to work in a child care setting who are creative, fun, and have a passion for youth development! Roles in the Out-of-School Time Programs (OST) unit include planning, programming, and leading age-appropriate activities for children ages 5-12 in a recreational setting and are divided in several categories:

• Activity Center Aide (ACA) - applicants must be at least 16 years old with some high school education or GED. Pay starts at $15/hour.
• Activity Center Assistant Leader (ACAL) – applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED. Pay starts at $17/hour.
• Activity Center Leader (ACL) - applicants must be at least 21 years old with a high school diploma or GED. Pay starts at $18.50/hour 

The ACAL and ACL positions require experience such as teacher/substitute, coach, recreation program leader, camp counselor, youth leader, scout leader, or childcare provider, either in a paid or volunteer capacity or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Part-time positions are up to 27 hours per week with hours primarily between 6:15– 9 a.m. and 2:30-6:15 p.m. Benefits include:

• Training/mentoring for career advancement
• Paid holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union exclusively for City employees and their dependents
• Deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Maternity/Paternity/Parental Care Leave 

Interested applicants can learn more and apply at VBgov.com/parksrecjobs.

Original source can be found here.