Brandon Twp. – The future impact of cutting the Brandon School District infant child care program will have a substantial effect according to child care Director June Wuopio.
On June 30, 2004, Cradle Care, a program for infant to 3 year old children will close due to significant budget cuts affecting the Brandon School District.
While Wuopio said the parents who have babies in infant care offered to pay a higher tuition to keep the program going, the $1,900 per child cost is just too extensive.
For the past two years Wuopio said the district has picked up the loss which ranged between $30,000 and $40,000 a year.
‘It (the cut) will only affect 10 to 12 children right now,? said Wuopio, ‘but it’s unfortunate to lose this program because it’s a real strategic program for child development.?
‘We don’t have the dollars for Cradle Care, and this program is not self-funding.
Bart Jenniches, Brandon Schools Superindent confirmed the announcement at the Feb. 9, school board meeting saying the decision to close the program is just one of many the district will face next year due to more than $1 million in deficit.
‘We’ll have some rough roads ahead. It’s not an easy decision.?
While the cost factor is significant for the district, Wuopio was concerned for the effects on the students.
Studies show children who participate in early child care fare much better, later, developmentally, in the school system in terms of flexibility with both social and academic progress.
Further, between infant to 3 years old are strategic years to impress a structured child care program, where caregivers know developmentally what is an age appropriate environmental exposure.
‘We know what has to happen in their environment, developmentally,? Wuopio said.
‘People are not just going to stay home, they will find private daycare elsewhere.?
‘It’s a real need in the community and we’d rather have them in a good program,? she said.
However, Wuopio said she is in complete understanding of why the district had to cut the infant care program and says parents should lobby for state subsidizing to prevent further cuts of early development programs.
‘It’s sad but statewide budget cuts in school districts are going to hit the supplemental services.?
‘Once we close this program it would be hard to get it back.?
Wuopio said that statewide budget cuts in the school districts are going to hit the supplemental services potentially effecting ancillary programs such as athletics or the arts and recommends parents should contact Sen. Deb Cherry and Rep. Ruth Johnson (R-Groveland Township) to encourage state subsidy to school districts.
‘We really are a Kindergarten through grade 12 district and it’s unfortunate to lose this, but we just can’t continue to run programs that cost the district money,? said Wuopio, who explained that the infant program has parent funded (tuition based) since in opened in 1994, but has not broke even.
‘Over all the district has been supportive,? said Wuopio.
‘Most districts have gotten out of the child care programs because they are so expensive.?
‘In fact, Brandon even kept fees down for us but they just can’t do that anymore and I understand that.?
‘I feel bad because we have a lot of our parents who have multiple kids in the program,? said Wuopio, however the toddler day care will continue for ages 18 months and up.?