Open Discussion Forum

We are a private Christian center in Berkeley, CA that serves infants through Pre-K. We have been open since June and like many other centers, trying to keep our heads above water. We recently the school districts in our area have announced that they will be opening schools in the fall, but it will be very likely that they will only offer distant learning for the students or if parents are lucky, a hybrid program that has students attending school part-time and distance learning the other half.

I have 4 teachers that have children in Elementary or Middle school and they will likely need to work very limited part-time hours. We do not have part-time teachers. Everyone works 40 hours a week, with the exception of 2 that work 35. Has anyone thought about a plan that could make accommodating part-time teachers work with the restrictions we are faced with? The classrooms (7) need consistency and I want to support the teachers. I just don't know how to make it all work when as an industry we are all struggling financially. Our program provides coverage to employees that work at least 20 hours, so if I try to piece things together, I may end up paying more on the benefits end.

I would greatly appreciate any insight and thoughts anyone has on how local public schools not providing face to face instruction will effect our industry.

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Tara Gray
Director
Cornerstone Children's Center
Berkeley CA
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Good Morning Tara,

    I hope you are well. Have you considered changing the infrastructure of your program to include virtual rooms where school-age children of working parents can spend the day learning? You would have to consider new policies, teacher qualifications, and what kind of program you will offer. Then there are the CDC/ NAEYC/ AAP recommendations to consider for keeping everybody safe. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. I have heard some say that we will have an era of "latchkey" kids again. Kids who will be home alone. As a mother of an 8-year-old, that terrifies me! I will be watching this post and on the lookout for what others are doing. I am grateful for you bringing it up!

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Melissa Ault
ELC of Orange County
Orlando FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2020 08:17 PM
From: Tara Gray
Subject: Plans on how to keep teachers when their own child's school isn't doing face to face classes?

We are a private Christian center in Berkeley, CA that serves infants through Pre-K. We have been open since June and like many other centers, trying to keep our heads above water. We recently the school districts in our area have announced that they will be opening schools in the fall, but it will be very likely that they will only offer distant learning for the students or if parents are lucky, a hybrid program that has students attending school part-time and distance learning the other half.

I have 4 teachers that have children in Elementary or Middle school and they will likely need to work very limited part-time hours. We do not have part-time teachers. Everyone works 40 hours a week, with the exception of 2 that work 35. Has anyone thought about a plan that could make accommodating part-time teachers work with the restrictions we are faced with? The classrooms (7) need consistency and I want to support the teachers. I just don't know how to make it all work when as an industry we are all struggling financially. Our program provides coverage to employees that work at least 20 hours, so if I try to piece things together, I may end up paying more on the benefits end.

I would greatly appreciate any insight and thoughts anyone has on how local public schools not providing face to face instruction will effect our industry.

------------------------------
Tara Gray
Director
Cornerstone Children's Center
Berkeley CA
------------------------------

I have affiliation with 2 different faith based centers, and both are exploring options to address this situation.  The need will be so great, but the time is short to get things in place.  Both have worked with the church to get creative in using new/different spaces within the facility (note, both churches currently are not meeting in person and do no plan to for quite a while).  Both are considering adding a K program for alumni and siblings of enrolled students.  They are also looking at adding an elementary aged supervision program.  Programs would provide the adult supervision and homework help, but not be responsible for the content which would come from the local county school.  It's all still a work in progress.

Sue Ferguson
Northern Virginia
Original Message:
Sent: 07-20-2020 08:12 AM
From: Melissa Ault
Subject: Plans on how to keep teachers when their own child's school isn't doing face to face classes?

Good Morning Tara,

    I hope you are well. Have you considered changing the infrastructure of your program to include virtual rooms where school-age children of working parents can spend the day learning? You would have to consider new policies, teacher qualifications, and what kind of program you will offer. Then there are the CDC/ NAEYC/ AAP recommendations to consider for keeping everybody safe. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. I have heard some say that we will have an era of "latchkey" kids again. Kids who will be home alone. As a mother of an 8-year-old, that terrifies me! I will be watching this post and on the lookout for what others are doing. I am grateful for you bringing it up!

------------------------------
Melissa Ault
ELC of Orange County
Orlando FL

Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2020 08:17 PM
From: Tara Gray
Subject: Plans on how to keep teachers when their own child's school isn't doing face to face classes?

We are a private Christian center in Berkeley, CA that serves infants through Pre-K. We have been open since June and like many other centers, trying to keep our heads above water. We recently the school districts in our area have announced that they will be opening schools in the fall, but it will be very likely that they will only offer distant learning for the students or if parents are lucky, a hybrid program that has students attending school part-time and distance learning the other half.

I have 4 teachers that have children in Elementary or Middle school and they will likely need to work very limited part-time hours. We do not have part-time teachers. Everyone works 40 hours a week, with the exception of 2 that work 35. Has anyone thought about a plan that could make accommodating part-time teachers work with the restrictions we are faced with? The classrooms (7) need consistency and I want to support the teachers. I just don't know how to make it all work when as an industry we are all struggling financially. Our program provides coverage to employees that work at least 20 hours, so if I try to piece things together, I may end up paying more on the benefits end.

I would greatly appreciate any insight and thoughts anyone has on how local public schools not providing face to face instruction will effect our industry.

------------------------------
Tara Gray
Director
Cornerstone Children's Center
Berkeley CA
------------------------------

Hi Tara,

Could you do some creative scheduling with your staff.  Have some work longer days to cover the teachers who would be out then the teachers could work longer days on the days they are at your center.  Sometimes it takes a whole lot of creativity to get needs met.  Good luck to you and your staff.  Hope things work out for you and your staff.

------------------------------
Deandra Wimberley
Le Bonheur Comm Health & Well-Being
Memphis TN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2020 08:17 PM
From: Tara Gray
Subject: Plans on how to keep teachers when their own child's school isn't doing face to face classes?

We are a private Christian center in Berkeley, CA that serves infants through Pre-K. We have been open since June and like many other centers, trying to keep our heads above water. We recently the school districts in our area have announced that they will be opening schools in the fall, but it will be very likely that they will only offer distant learning for the students or if parents are lucky, a hybrid program that has students attending school part-time and distance learning the other half.

I have 4 teachers that have children in Elementary or Middle school and they will likely need to work very limited part-time hours. We do not have part-time teachers. Everyone works 40 hours a week, with the exception of 2 that work 35. Has anyone thought about a plan that could make accommodating part-time teachers work with the restrictions we are faced with? The classrooms (7) need consistency and I want to support the teachers. I just don't know how to make it all work when as an industry we are all struggling financially. Our program provides coverage to employees that work at least 20 hours, so if I try to piece things together, I may end up paying more on the benefits end.

I would greatly appreciate any insight and thoughts anyone has on how local public schools not providing face to face instruction will effect our industry.

------------------------------
Tara Gray
Director
Cornerstone Children's Center
Berkeley CA
------------------------------