MiniBury

Brought to you by the Addison Independent

  • Home
  • About MiniBury
  • Archives
  • The Addison Independent
  • Sign up for the newsletter
  • Events Calendar
  • Summer Camp Guide 2023*
  • Playgroups etc.
  • Stuff To Do

Child Care Providers Worry New State Guidelines Will be Difficult To Follow

05.19.2020 By: VTDigger

By Grace Elletson, VTDigger.org

Newly released guidelines from the Scott administration give child care providers a first look at what reopening their facilities will have to look like — if they reopen at all. 

Gov. Phil Scott announced May 8 that Vermont’s child care providers can begin to reopen their facilities to all families on June 1. Previously they could only take in children of essential workers. 

And while some child care centers say they’re ready to open up again, others are facing challenges that are keeping them closed. Some are unwilling to open because they say it would be unsafe to do so. 

“Child care is at the forefront of conversations in Vermont, and across the globe, about how we’re going to restart the economy,” said Aly Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow Kids. “You can’t start turning that spigot without this.”

Richards said her organization has heard “mixed” reactions from providers about the new guidelines issued May 13 which strictly outline how centers can reopen. The majority of providers understand the guidance is informed by public health best practices, she said, but being able to fulfill them completely may be hard to do. 

She said providers are worried about how they’re going to secure cleaning supplies required for constant sanitizing when those products are scarce for families and businesses across the country. 

The state is also requiring that all child care workers check children’s temperatures before they enter the building and recommends that all children above the age of 2 wear masks. Staff need to wear masks and eye protection. No more than 25 children and staff can be in one room at a time and facilities are encouraged to keep the children spaced out as much as possible — that means no close-contact activities or nap times. 

In order to meet all of these requirements, Richards said child care facilities are going to need ongoing financial support from the state beyond the initial bailout that kept programs going while they were closed. The state is planning to prop up child care restart grants for providers, which has a current budget of $6 million. 

But Richards says more money is going to be needed. 

“Whether we like it or not, it’s going to be more expensive and more complicated to provide child care in this environment,” Richards said. 

Nicole Walker, director of Apple Tree Learning Center located in Stowe, said the 25 person per room rule likely won’t impact her facility negatively because it has enough space. She said she’s grateful the restrictions on groups of people were increased from 10 to 25 so her facility can start welcoming back more parents by June 1, although she doesn’t think she’ll return to 100% capacity by then. Apple Tree has remained open to serve children of essential workers. 

But meeting mandated staff to children ratios per room may be tricky — she’s planning to hire an additional staff member or two to meet these demands, which will need to be covered by the restart grants. 

Walker also said it’s going to be a challenge to find more cleaning supplies. If more children start returning to her facility, more supplies will inevitably be needed to meet the state’s sanitation requirements. She’s also going to need to locate protective eyewear for staff and no-touch thermometers. 

“All of these things are really expensive,” Walker said. “These no-touch thermometers, it was $200 for two and they still haven’t come in yet. And I really need eight to 10. And I could only afford two right now.” 

At the Addison County Parent Child Center, the burdens to reopen go beyond just securing supplies. Donna Bailey, director of the center, said her facility hasn’t made a final call on whether it will open on June 1, but it’s unlikely. 

She said two main hurdles are holding her center back from opening again: First, about half of her staff can’t come back to work because they can’t find child care for their own children. Secondly, parents are scared to bring their children back to the center because of the health risks. She said less than half of her parents are willing for their children to come back. 

By allowing centers to open June 1, Bailey said she thinks the state is overlooking the health of its children to get its economic gears churning again. 

“I think child care is critically important to the economic pinnings of Vermont,” Bailey said. “But before that, we are about caring and education. And we can’t just plow through the caring and education piece to get the economy going because we need child care.”

“It’s not fair,” Bailey said. “It’s not fair to put our babies on the front lines of this.” 

Some child care providers are asking Gov. Phil Scott to push back the date centers would be able to open entirely due to safety concerns. A letter signed by scores of providers, parents, teachers and legislators presents this request to Scott. A protest organized by child care providers is also scheduled to be held at the Statehouse Friday, May 15, to express these same concerns. 

“We acknowledge that there are economic realities that make it seem like June 1st would be a good time to open,” the letter states. “We value economic stability and security for Vermonters. We are also advocates for our students and are not willing to put children on the frontline of a virus that has affected so many when the data does not tell us that they will be safe.” 

Rep. Ann Pugh, D-South Burlington, who also signed that letter, chairs the House Human Services committee which took testimony Thursday on how the state is going to support the reopening of child care centers. 

Multiple lawmakers brought up aforementioned concerns expressed by child care providers. Rep. Topper McFaun, R-Barre Town, probed Steven Berbeco, deputy commissioner of the Agency of Human Services Child Development Division, about how the state was going to ensure that cleaning supplies were delivered to child care facilities. He also questioned when the agency would know if the $6 million budgeted for the restart grants would be enough. 

“If I’m a daycare operator … where do I get my bar of soap, where do I get all my stuff, so I can comply with these guidelines?” McFaun asked. “That’s where I think they’re going to need help.” 

“We’re looking to resolve the issue about access to thermometers, cloth facial coverings, gloves and cleaning materials by really as soon as possible,” Berbeco said. He said the state has been distributing thermometers to open providers and is anticipating another shipment soon.

Berbeco said applications for the restart grants are due next Friday. He said once those applications are in, the state will have a better idea if more funding needs to be allocated and how much funding each center will receive. 

This story first appeared on VTDigger.org on May 14, 2020.

Related Posts

  • Do you you need affordable drop-in child care?

    Do you you need affordable drop-in child care? Single Mom Launches National Parental Leave Project…

  • What Will Child Care Look Like In June?

    Otter Creek Child Center is reopening on June 1. Director Linda January took some time…

  • Drive-In Movie To Benefit Parent/Child Center

    Help the Addison County Parent/Child Center celebrate its 40th year by coming out to a…

VTDigger

Upcoming Events

Mar
31
Fri
12:30 pm Homeschoolers Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Homeschoolers Open Gym @ Middlebury Rec Center
Mar 31 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Come play at the town gym with other homeschool families.
6:00 pm Karaoke Night @ Ilsley @ Ilsley Library
Karaoke Night @ Ilsley @ Ilsley Library
Mar 31 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Karaoke night is back! Teens and tweens are invited to this after-hours event for food, fun, and some incredible singing.
7:00 pm Mount Abe Presents ‘Mean Girls’ @ Mount Abraham Union High School
Mount Abe Presents ‘Mean Girls’ @ Mount Abraham Union High School
Mar 31 @ 7:00 pm
Actors from Mount Abraham Union High School perform the musical version of the classic Lindsay Lohan movie.
Apr
1
Sat
8:00 am Friends of Weybridge School Tag ... @ Weybridge Elementary School
Friends of Weybridge School Tag ... @ Weybridge Elementary School
Apr 1 @ 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Come shop for toys and books, household items, clothing & accessories, sporting equipment, furniture and more. Doors open at 8 a.m. Fill-a-bag for $5 starts at 11am. Freebies at 1 p.m. Free pile all day!
9:30 am Vergennes Saturday Playgroup @ Vergennes Congregational Church
Vergennes Saturday Playgroup @ Vergennes Congregational Church
Apr 1 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Little ones (birth to 5) and their caregivers get together to play, make new friends, and build a supportive family community. Complimentary coffee will be served for adults; BYO snacks. This playgroup meets every week [...]
10:00 am Spring Craft Day @ LML @ Lawrence Memorial Library
Spring Craft Day @ LML @ Lawrence Memorial Library
Apr 1 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Looking for something fun to do on April Fools Day?! Stop by the Children’s library at LML to create and take home a spring craft! All supplies provided. No registration required.
10:30 am Bixby Young Writers Club @ Bixby Library
Bixby Young Writers Club @ Bixby Library
Apr 1 @ 10:30 am
The Young Writers Club is held the first Saturday of the month in the Bixby’s Vermont Room. We will work on fun and informal writing activities. This program is recommended for elementary school-aged children.
12:00 pm Sib2Sib Middlebury April Event
Sib2Sib Middlebury April Event
Apr 1 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Local middle schoolers are invited to join college mentors for a fun afternoon featuring a scavenger hunt, planting some seeds, snacking, and discussing growth for the spring season. Sibling-to-Sibling (Sib2Sib) is an organization led by [...]
12:30 pm Kids Cafe Free Movie @ The Marquis
Kids Cafe Free Movie @ The Marquis
Apr 1 @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Catch a kids’ movie for free in the Marquis cafe.
2:00 pm Mount Abe Presents ‘Mean Girls’ @ Mount Abraham Union High School
Mount Abe Presents ‘Mean Girls’ @ Mount Abraham Union High School
Apr 1 @ 2:00 pm
Actors from Mount Abraham Union High School perform the musical version of the classic Lindsay Lohan movie.
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Helpful Websites

  • Addison Central School District
  • Addison County Pre-K
  • Addison County Readers
  • Addison County WIC page
  • Addison Independent
  • Addison Northwest School District
  • Bristol Recreation Department
  • Building Bright Futures
  • Experience Middlebury
  • Find and Go Seek
  • Ilsley Public Library
  • Junebug
  • Kids VT
  • Let's Grow Kids
  • Mary Johnson Children's Center
  • Memorial Sports Center (Ice Rink)
  • Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT)
  • Middlebury College Events
  • Middlebury Community Music Center
  • Middlebury Parks and Recreation
  • Middlebury Weather
  • Mount Abraham Unified School District
  • National Association of Education of Young Children
  • Rikert Nordic Center
  • Simon Says
  • Snow Bowl
  • VT Dept. of Health
  • WIC Health

Copyright © 2023 · Modern Blogger Pro Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design