Open Discussion Forum

This is truly unsettling. They should not be compromising your health and the children's too.

If they choose to stay open, they should be paying you hazard pay for working during a major pandemic. Many people are asymptomatic and are carriers bringing the disease into the school.

Personally, I do not think that this is a good situation and shows the lack of respect your school has for you and the children you care for.

There is absolutely no reason why your center should be open. When the cons outweigh the pros, the decision should be clear. 

Most parents can work from home and are perfectly capable of taking care of their children for a short period of time. Otherwise, they can hire a babysitter or nanny to care for their children.

Do you work for a large, corporate day care? If so, they will remain open to increase their profit margin. They want to enroll as many children in back-up care and daycare as possible because most schools are closed at this time.

Please stay safe and healthy.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

I do appreciate your time to read my question. I am just worry at this point that they gonna wait till something like that happens, our daycare is a small size no more than 35 kids and as a Friday probably just like 40% show up,  we have some parents that I'm sure they can watch  their children from home but they still bring them in. Keep you guys update. 
Thank you.
Blessing!

------------------------------
Gabriela Rodriuez

Fort Wayne IN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 04:29 PM
From: Jennifer Hatcher
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

This is truly unsettling. They should not be compromising your health and the children's too.

If they choose to stay open, they should be paying you hazard pay for working during a major pandemic. Many people are asymptomatic and are carriers bringing the disease into the school.

Personally, I do not think that this is a good situation and shows the lack of respect your school has for you and the children you care for.

There is absolutely no reason why your center should be open. When the cons outweigh the pros, the decision should be clear.

Most parents can work from home and are perfectly capable of taking care of their children for a short period of time. Otherwise, they can hire a babysitter or nanny to care for their children.

Do you work for a large, corporate day care? If so, they will remain open to increase their profit margin. They want to enroll as many children in back-up care and daycare as possible because most schools are closed at this time.

Please stay safe and healthy.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

I work in Kansas.  Our county was just issued a "stay home" order.  All K - 12 schools in the state are closed through the end of May.
The CDC and our local health department all recommend that we stay open.  It is hard to fight that.  Early Education Centers that hold a child care license are considered essential businesses and our employees are essential workers.  I agree we should be getting hazard pay.  



------------------------------
Mary Kay Scanlon
Holy Trinity Early Education Center
Lenexa KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 04:29 PM
From: Jennifer Hatcher
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

This is truly unsettling. They should not be compromising your health and the children's too.

If they choose to stay open, they should be paying you hazard pay for working during a major pandemic. Many people are asymptomatic and are carriers bringing the disease into the school.

Personally, I do not think that this is a good situation and shows the lack of respect your school has for you and the children you care for.

There is absolutely no reason why your center should be open. When the cons outweigh the pros, the decision should be clear.

Most parents can work from home and are perfectly capable of taking care of their children for a short period of time. Otherwise, they can hire a babysitter or nanny to care for their children.

Do you work for a large, corporate day care? If so, they will remain open to increase their profit margin. They want to enroll as many children in back-up care and daycare as possible because most schools are closed at this time.

Please stay safe and healthy.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

Original Message------

This is truly unsettling. They should not be compromising your health and the children's too.

If they choose to stay open, they should be paying you hazard pay for working during a major pandemic. Many people are asymptomatic and are carriers bringing the disease into the school.

Personally, I do not think that this is a good situation and shows the lack of respect your school has for you and the children you care for.

There is absolutely no reason why your center should be open. When the cons outweigh the pros, the decision should be clear. 

Most parents can work from home and are perfectly capable of taking care of their children for a short period of time. Otherwise, they can hire a babysitter or nanny to care for their children.

Do you work for a large, corporate day care? If so, they will remain open to increase their profit margin. They want to enroll as many children in back-up care and daycare as possible because most schools are closed at this time.

Please stay safe and healthy.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

Scott,

I think childcare is extremely important for both the children and parents who require it in order to do their jobs, but asking healthy individuals to risk their health in order to take care of others children is asking too much.

Doctors, nurses, and first responders choose their professions and knew the risks involved to their health and lives before they entered their fields of practice. Daycare teachers did not assume these risks when entering their profession.

We are not heros, but caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children on a daily basis. We are educators and caregivers. We are just as important as any  individual in any industry.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2020 12:59 AM
From: Scott Mesh
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

This is a bad situation for everyone. Absolutely this is a concern about everyone getting the virus. Yes, it is hero's work to care for children and ensure their parents, who might be essential personnel like cops, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, can work to help others.

Original Message------

This is truly unsettling. They should not be compromising your health and the children's too.

If they choose to stay open, they should be paying you hazard pay for working during a major pandemic. Many people are asymptomatic and are carriers bringing the disease into the school.

Personally, I do not think that this is a good situation and shows the lack of respect your school has for you and the children you care for.

There is absolutely no reason why your center should be open. When the cons outweigh the pros, the decision should be clear.

Most parents can work from home and are perfectly capable of taking care of their children for a short period of time. Otherwise, they can hire a babysitter or nanny to care for their children.

Do you work for a large, corporate day care? If so, they will remain open to increase their profit margin. They want to enroll as many children in back-up care and daycare as possible because most schools are closed at this time.

Please stay safe and healthy.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

This is an excellent article on why early education centers should close.  There is no one really advocating for us
and it is frustrating. From the state governors to our local licensing departments we are only hearing that we should remain open.
Today I was in a Zoom meeting with our local dept of health and environment.  They were preparing to go home because of the
"Stay home" order while telling us to stay open. After years of low pay and little respect, we are deemed "Essential Workers" while at the same time still getting low pay and even less respect. 

https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/post/coronavirus-it-is-time-for-child-care-programs-to-close?fbclid=IwAR3CRHN2xNMzTOFZcpC-m9QsbDzd1W-C-rcLCI6NSDwsY4Fsj9JZg6ercKM

------------------------------
Mary Kay Scanlon
Holy Trinity Early Education Center
Lenexa KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2020 12:38 AM
From: Jennifer Hatcher
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

Scott,

I think childcare is extremely important for both the children and parents who require it in order to do their jobs, but asking healthy individuals to risk their health in order to take care of others children is asking too much.

Doctors, nurses, and first responders choose their professions and knew the risks involved to their health and lives before they entered their fields of practice. Daycare teachers did not assume these risks when entering their profession.

We are not heros, but caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children on a daily basis. We are educators and caregivers. We are just as important as any  individual in any industry.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States

Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2020 12:59 AM
From: Scott Mesh
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

This is a bad situation for everyone. Absolutely this is a concern about everyone getting the virus. Yes, it is hero's work to care for children and ensure their parents, who might be essential personnel like cops, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, can work to help others.

Original Message------

This is truly unsettling. They should not be compromising your health and the children's too.

If they choose to stay open, they should be paying you hazard pay for working during a major pandemic. Many people are asymptomatic and are carriers bringing the disease into the school.

Personally, I do not think that this is a good situation and shows the lack of respect your school has for you and the children you care for.

There is absolutely no reason why your center should be open. When the cons outweigh the pros, the decision should be clear.

Most parents can work from home and are perfectly capable of taking care of their children for a short period of time. Otherwise, they can hire a babysitter or nanny to care for their children.

Do you work for a large, corporate day care? If so, they will remain open to increase their profit margin. They want to enroll as many children in back-up care and daycare as possible because most schools are closed at this time.

Please stay safe and healthy.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

Hi Mary Kay, 

This was a very well-written article. I feel the same way you do about the situation. Allowing childcare centers to be open and treating their employees like their health is not as important as other workers (such as the health department) is unconscionable. This is why the pandemic started. Everyone thought that the Coronavirus was "a mild case of the flu" and now it has become a worldwide pandemic. This is mainly  because so many health care professionals allowed daycares, restaurants, sporting events and large, community gathering places remain open and many people ignored the "stay at home" orders. 

I truly understand your predicament. Unfortunately, early childhood educators will always be seen as lesser counterparts to elementary and beyond teachers. This is extraordinarily sad due to the fact that these "higher grade" teachers need our help on a daily basis in order to perform their jobs. 

I wish you the best of luck. Please stay healthy! 


------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2020 12:53 AM
From: Mary Kay Scanlon
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

This is an excellent article on why early education centers should close.  There is no one really advocating for us
and it is frustrating. From the state governors to our local licensing departments we are only hearing that we should remain open.
Today I was in a Zoom meeting with our local dept of health and environment.  They were preparing to go home because of the
"Stay home" order while telling us to stay open. After years of low pay and little respect, we are deemed "Essential Workers" while at the same time still getting low pay and even less respect.

https://www.childhoodpreparedness.org/post/coronavirus-it-is-time-for-child-care-programs-to-close?fbclid=IwAR3CRHN2xNMzTOFZcpC-m9QsbDzd1W-C-rcLCI6NSDwsY4Fsj9JZg6ercKM

------------------------------
Mary Kay Scanlon
Holy Trinity Early Education Center
Lenexa KS

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2020 12:38 AM
From: Jennifer Hatcher
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

Scott,

I think childcare is extremely important for both the children and parents who require it in order to do their jobs, but asking healthy individuals to risk their health in order to take care of others children is asking too much.

Doctors, nurses, and first responders choose their professions and knew the risks involved to their health and lives before they entered their fields of practice. Daycare teachers did not assume these risks when entering their profession.

We are not heros, but caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children on a daily basis. We are educators and caregivers. We are just as important as any  individual in any industry.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States

Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2020 12:59 AM
From: Scott Mesh
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

This is a bad situation for everyone. Absolutely this is a concern about everyone getting the virus. Yes, it is hero's work to care for children and ensure their parents, who might be essential personnel like cops, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, can work to help others.

Original Message------

This is truly unsettling. They should not be compromising your health and the children's too.

If they choose to stay open, they should be paying you hazard pay for working during a major pandemic. Many people are asymptomatic and are carriers bringing the disease into the school.

Personally, I do not think that this is a good situation and shows the lack of respect your school has for you and the children you care for.

There is absolutely no reason why your center should be open. When the cons outweigh the pros, the decision should be clear.

Most parents can work from home and are perfectly capable of taking care of their children for a short period of time. Otherwise, they can hire a babysitter or nanny to care for their children.

Do you work for a large, corporate day care? If so, they will remain open to increase their profit margin. They want to enroll as many children in back-up care and daycare as possible because most schools are closed at this time.

Please stay safe and healthy.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

Our centers are closed. Our homecare is closed.

I am collecting useful tips for patents to share by of. Anyone can record a few minutes of a tip for parents stuck home. Reach out if interested



Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S® 5, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone


Original Message------

Scott,

I think childcare is extremely important for both the children and parents who require it in order to do their jobs, but asking healthy individuals to risk their health in order to take care of others children is asking too much.

Doctors, nurses, and first responders choose their professions and knew the risks involved to their health and lives before they entered their fields of practice. Daycare teachers did not assume these risks when entering their profession.

We are not heros, but caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children on a daily basis. We are educators and caregivers. We are just as important as any  individual in any industry.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------

Hello! 
Not specific tips but my school is making all our distance learning materials accessible to the general public. We do not follow a set curriculum and instead design all of our projects, lessons and explorations throughout the course of the year. The current materials are for Early elementary (preschool/3 yr old through kindergarten) and elementary school (1st through 5th grade). It also includes suggested specialist activities (art, music, PE, library, technology, spanish, science). We will also have ideas for infants and toddlers available soon. 

All of the activities should be pretty do-able for families from home and are lots of fun! For families who have access to a printer there are also materials to print off to support any work or play families are doing at home. Here's a link for anyone interested: https://sites.google.com/ucds.org/ucdsdistancelearning/

------------------------------
Katharine Walters-Krohn
Director
UCDS Early Education Program
Seattle WA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2020 06:56 AM
From: Scott Mesh
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

Our centers are closed. Our homecare is closed.

I am collecting useful tips for patents to share by of. Anyone can record a few minutes of a tip for parents stuck home. Reach out if interested



Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S® 5, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone


Original Message------

Scott,

I think childcare is extremely important for both the children and parents who require it in order to do their jobs, but asking healthy individuals to risk their health in order to take care of others children is asking too much.

Doctors, nurses, and first responders choose their professions and knew the risks involved to their health and lives before they entered their fields of practice. Daycare teachers did not assume these risks when entering their profession.

We are not heros, but caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children on a daily basis. We are educators and caregivers. We are just as important as any  individual in any industry.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------

Katherine, 

These are such amazing resources that your school put together! I will be sending this link to my parents so they can learn about this wealth of information. While we are unable to be at our schools due to the virus, we can always lend a helping hand to the parents.Thanks for sharing these wonderful resources!

------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2020 12:25 PM
From: Katharine Walters-Krohn
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

Hello!
Not specific tips but my school is making all our distance learning materials accessible to the general public. We do not follow a set curriculum and instead design all of our projects, lessons and explorations throughout the course of the year. The current materials are for Early elementary (preschool/3 yr old through kindergarten) and elementary school (1st through 5th grade). It also includes suggested specialist activities (art, music, PE, library, technology, spanish, science). We will also have ideas for infants and toddlers available soon.

All of the activities should be pretty do-able for families from home and are lots of fun! For families who have access to a printer there are also materials to print off to support any work or play families are doing at home. Here's a link for anyone interested: https://sites.google.com/ucds.org/ucdsdistancelearning/

------------------------------
Katharine Walters-Krohn
Director
UCDS Early Education Program
Seattle WA

Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2020 06:56 AM
From: Scott Mesh
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

Our centers are closed. Our homecare is closed.

I am collecting useful tips for patents to share by of. Anyone can record a few minutes of a tip for parents stuck home. Reach out if interested



Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S® 5, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone


Original Message------

Scott,

I think childcare is extremely important for both the children and parents who require it in order to do their jobs, but asking healthy individuals to risk their health in order to take care of others children is asking too much.

Doctors, nurses, and first responders choose their professions and knew the risks involved to their health and lives before they entered their fields of practice. Daycare teachers did not assume these risks when entering their profession.

We are not heros, but caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of children on a daily basis. We are educators and caregivers. We are just as important as any  individual in any industry.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States
------------------------------

Aloha,
Here in Hawai'i, on the island of Oahu, our mayor just announced today that we are on a mandatory stay at home, work from home starting tomorrow at 4:30 pm until April 30.  One of the exceptions is for child care centers who have parents that are essential workers.  I have sent out an email asking all parents whether or not they fit into this category.  I am awaiting answers.  While I know that the spread of COVID19 has been rapid, and this has certainly been a time of turmoil and worry, there are other reasons that we would choose to remain open.  I hear that our unemployment office has been inundated with filers, since many other businesses have been forced to close and lay off employees.  I don't think that the feds $1000.00 a month will really help those who will find themselves without pay for over a month.  I know it won't help me to pay my bills.  Right now, nobody knows how long this will really last.  What I do know is that if parents need us, we will find a way to help them.  This is what we are in business for.  How can I say to a doctor, "Sorry, you have to stay home, because we can't care for your child anymore."?  Yes, there is the concern that someone may bring the virus into our school.  But where else do people sanitize as often as we do.  We won't accept any new children.  And we will do checks of every child and parent that enters our doors.  We continue to wash our hands and monitor the children's hand-washing and social distancing.  We do not allow family-style meals anymore.  I trust that none of the parents who are essential workers will continue to work if they're sick.  Nor will they continue to work if their children are sick.  These are unprecedented times.  We need to believe that everything is being done as quickly as possible.  And we need to believe that our governments are doing everything in their powers to slow the spread of COVID19.
I respect everyone's opinions of how we should handle this, but I refuse to live in fear.  By the way, I do not work for a large corporate day care.  I work for a faith-based, non-profit school with 80 students and 17 staff members.  And if just a few of our parents need us, I hope that we will be able to help them.  Also, I saw a report that said that there are very few asymptomatic cases of the virus.  (Of course, that's hard to verify, since they won't test those without symptoms.)
I remain prayerful and hopeful that we will someday soon see the end of this.

------------------------------
Catherine Awong
Director
Mililani Presbyterian Preschool
Mililani, HI, USA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

So difficult for ECE providers. Little story. A friend owns/runs a small program. She remained open (advising parents to stay home if possible -many did) the week before last, simply to provide parents to make "arrangements" for the following week (last week) when she would close for 2(??) weeks. Low and behold, mid week last week she got a call from one of the Mom's who told her that a family member tested positive! The Mom was upset to have to make the call and the Director was obviously upset because now not only were the children who were in school at the time & the staff exposed but potentially all their families as well (remember that word- exponential). Good news is so far so good with anyone else contracting it -but still....My point being - Our Govt. needs to hurry up and figure out how to help "essential' folks (medical, police, fire grocery store etc) with safe childcare AND be sure they have the cleaning supplies available to said programs! Non-essential people, should stay home AND not complain about tuition/partial tuition payments...People forget that ECE programs (family, center or whatever) still have overhead costs...That's my bit. Stay safe/be healthy everyone.

------------------------------
Karin King
Education Consultant
Trumbull CT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

Here in San Jose, California, we've been sheltering in place for a full week and my program has been closed throughout.  Our state gave us three conditions which child care centers must adhere to if they want to remain open:

1) Children have to be in groups of 12 or fewer.
2) Each group has to have a separate space.
3) Teachers can only teach one group.

My program is unable to adhere to these guidelines.  If everyone came we have 16-24 children in each class.  Our school is sort of a one-room schoolhouse.  Classes do not take place at the same time but all take place in the same space.  And I am the teacher for two of the groups.  So, for as long as these guidelines are in place (our Governor's order to shelter in place is "until further notice"), we will have to remain closed.

------------------------------
Sherrie Rose Mayle
Director/Teacher
Campbell Parents' Participation Preschool
Campbell, CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

Thank you ladies!
I feel the support each other have in this forums, I have more clear ideas now about what's happening. Praying that we all can go thru this situation the post positive way!!!

------------------------------
Gabriela Rodriuez
Fort Wayne IN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2020 10:32 AM
From: Sherrie Rose Mayle
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

Here in San Jose, California, we've been sheltering in place for a full week and my program has been closed throughout.  Our state gave us three conditions which child care centers must adhere to if they want to remain open:

1) Children have to be in groups of 12 or fewer.
2) Each group has to have a separate space.
3) Teachers can only teach one group.

My program is unable to adhere to these guidelines.  If everyone came we have 16-24 children in each class.  Our school is sort of a one-room schoolhouse.  Classes do not take place at the same time but all take place in the same space.  And I am the teacher for two of the groups.  So, for as long as these guidelines are in place (our Governor's order to shelter in place is "until further notice"), we will have to remain closed.

------------------------------
Sherrie Rose Mayle
Director/Teacher
Campbell Parents' Participation Preschool
Campbell, CA

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick? 

Feel free to borrow and send letters to Washington today.

Jon_Cardinal@schumer.senate.gov (Schumer)
angelica_annino@gillibrand.senate.gov (Gillibrand)

I am a director of a NY state licensed campus child care center in the Hudson River Valley, and I have been working in child care for 25 years. In the past few years the child care industry has been struggling in what we have described as a "care crisis" with a shortage of high quality programs, with working families unable to pay the high cost of care, and with child care providers working at poverty wages in our neighborhoods. We have been a blind spot for far too long. Now with the COVID-19 pandemic, our already strained industry is crumbling.

The National Association of Young Children reported today that without immediate relief, it is estimated that more than 50 % of child care centers in our nation will close in April. I am writing this letter to request stimulus funding to keep the child care industry from collapsing.

Childcare centers need your strong leadership immediately. I respectfully request that you work with Speaker Pelosi to significantly INCREASE the ask for childcare to $50B. Without this funding, our child care infrastructure will disintegrate.

Never in my long career have I experienced such confusion, neglect, and dangerous lack of protection and disrespect for children and their child care teachers. While schools close and the public is told to stay at home, child care centers are asked to increase their capacity and suspend their standards and loosen their regulated safety measures. Caring for children in the best of times is an honorable profession which demands profound knowledge and expertise. An infectious disease pandemic is not the time to lower standards and loosen regulations. More than ever, child care centers need professionals, increased materials and resources, and strengthened health and safety standards to operate in emergency conditions and to survive during and beyond this pandemic.

Emergency relief is urgently needed to protect our children and our care grid. Without supporting the infrastructure of care givers that allows nurses, doctors, grocery store workers, and all essential personnel to be of service, we will leave our entire workforce stranded and weaken our society. The cost of damaging the care-force that sustains our economy and is the heart of our community will have long lasting consequences on our national strength. The way we respond to children, families and their caregivers in this crisis will reveal our values for decades to come.

Carol Garboden Murray
cmurray@bard.edu

------------------------------
Carol Murray
Bard Nursery School
Red Hook NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2020 12:22 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Covid-19 questions and concerns: working? staying open?

I have a concern,  hope you guys can tell your though,  at the place where I work the only 2 reason we will close is if the state tells us or if someone gets the virus (covid-19) is this make sense? Waiting till someone gets sick?