Clearing things up
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
To the editor:
Hi – This is Brenda here at the Family Resource Center. Wanted to clear up a few things in regards to the operation of our childcare center.
First, I am saddened to see formal education drop down another year for children.
Second, I want to address our waiting list as it seems to be a topic of discussion out in the community.
• Priority is given to families that are already clients. An example would be an existing family having a new baby.
• When you first call, your information is taken and added to a spreadsheet according to the room in which your child would attend and date of call. When your child ages up, their name is moved to the next class waiting list according to the date you called us.
• Recently, we have had many accusations of us not getting families in. What some don’t know is that some families have had opportunities to start enrollment but declined due to price, current providers or ability to get multiple children in at the same time.
• Ratios don’t change from 0-2 years of age so if you don’t get in or accept opening as an infant, the next opportunity would be the toddler room. These ratios are set nationally. We cannot put more children in a room just because a parent wants in.
These ratios lead into the next community complaint.
Third, why can’t the center survive without the 4t childcare program and the voluntary preschool rent? The ratios of the 4t childcare program are one adult to 12 children so we are able to make some money to help offset younger classrooms where ratios are one adult to four children. It also helped pay for insurance, food, utilities, maintenance and upkeep and support staff such as closers, breaks, cook, etc.
By losing the rent of the preschool classrooms and our tuition from FRC half-day programming, we still have the same expenses as we have had plus some the school previously took care of such as mowing and snow removal. If we expand our smaller age rooms, ratios of adults to children will not allow us to gain the income we are missing from the four year olds.
If there are any questions you need answered, please call the center at 641-464-3385. This will ensure accurate information is being relayed and any other explanation can be discussed with the director.
We are doing our best to roll with the changes and we want to continue to provide quality care for families in our community so everyone can succeed.
Brenda Adams
Mount Ayr
