Open Discussion Forum

Hi Gabby,
I also work in a private Daycare and have been diligently watching the news. I am quite concerned about keeping our school open during this time. With local schools being closed, we will have an influx of School age children attend, along with our younger children. Unfortunately there are parents who use this time to drop their kids off for the day as a "babysitter". What is our protocol? Who makes the decisions on what daycares must do during this time? I myself do not feel comfortable going into work, but can not make these decisions!
Lori Studenski

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Lori Studenski
VPK Lead Teacher
Andromeda Preschool
Orange Park FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez 

_{Hi Gabby, currently I have seen no mandated closures in states for childcare.  In Maine, we are referring providers to CDC guidelines to make their own choices about closures or staying open.  Several states have now adopted or are proposing emergency rules to allow increases in group sizes and allow larger ratios.  Our governor is asking programs to stay open but not mandated that either. Right now, my center is open for essential care for families that have to work outside of the home and we are following CDC guidelines for hygeine and cleaning.  We are asking that any child or family member with a fever or upper respiratory symptoms stay home.  Our group sizes will be very small in the coming days.  We are taking it day by day until threat of exposure becomes higher or we are mandated to close.  Programs are making decisions independently.  YMCA's have closed in our state.}

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Heather Marden
Birchwood Day Nursery School
Raymond ME
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez 

Hi Heather,  

Have you had to lay off teachers due to small class sizes or are you able to keep staffing and parents are paying without bringing their children for care?  

My parents won't use backup care if they have to keep paying our center for care.  They cannot afford it.  Some of the teachers are afraid to come to work and are calling out.  Our class sizes are small.  The demand is high but we don't have the resources to provide care correctly without putting everyone at risk.

No wonder the disease is still spreading rapidly.  Child care centers are a primary cause of community spread.  I can't believe no state has ordered them closed or given them help to stay open yet.

Connie
Delaware

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Connie Richard
Hartly Family Learning Ctr
Hartly DE
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-16-2020 06:42 AM
From: Heather Marden
Subject: Daycare...

_{Hi Gabby, currently I have seen no mandated closures in states for childcare.  In Maine, we are referring providers to CDC guidelines to make their own choices about closures or staying open.  Several states have now adopted or are proposing emergency rules to allow increases in group sizes and allow larger ratios.  Our governor is asking programs to stay open but not mandated that either. Right now, my center is open for essential care for families that have to work outside of the home and we are following CDC guidelines for hygeine and cleaning.  We are asking that any child or family member with a fever or upper respiratory symptoms stay home.  Our group sizes will be very small in the coming days.  We are taking it day by day until threat of exposure becomes higher or we are mandated to close.  Programs are making decisions independently.  YMCA's have closed in our state.}

------------------------------
Heather Marden
Birchwood Day Nursery School
Raymond ME

Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez 

Original Message------

Hi Heather,  

Have you had to lay off teachers due to small class sizes or are you able to keep staffing and parents are paying without bringing their children for care?  

My parents won't use backup care if they have to keep paying our center for care.  They cannot afford it.  Some of the teachers are afraid to come to work and are calling out.  Our class sizes are small.  The demand is high but we don't have the resources to provide care correctly without putting everyone at risk.

No wonder the disease is still spreading rapidly.  Child care centers are a primary cause of community spread.  I can't believe no state has ordered them closed or given them help to stay open yet.

Connie
Delaware

------------------------------
Connie Richard
Hartly Family Learning Ctr
Hartly DE
------------------------------

Gabby,

You  should be receiving notifications with directives from your state licensing agency (Dept. of Human Services or whatever agency licenses your daycare). If you have not heard from them, check their website. I'm in PA and even private nursery schools and day cares have been mandated to close.
Marie Conti

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Marie Conti
Head of School
The Wetherill School
Gladwyne PA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez 

Original Message------

Gabby,

You  should be receiving notifications with directives from your state licensing agency (Dept. of Human Services or whatever agency licenses your daycare). If you have not heard from them, check their website. I'm in PA and even private nursery schools and day cares have been mandated to close.
Marie Conti

------------------------------
Marie Conti
Head of School
The Wetherill School
Gladwyne PA
------------------------------

It truly depends on your daycare. My daycare is private and just closed for two weeks due to the virus.

Illinois's governor says that childcare centers can remain open for first responders etc., but many centers feel the risk of infection is too great and are closing.

Health services/agencies may set specific guidelines for daycare centers,  but many of the guidelines cannot be followed by such young children. Examples are coughing and sneezing into tissues, proper handwashing, not touching their faces and so on.

Thankfully, directors are taking this into account and taking precautionary steps such as closures, deep cleaning procedures, and creation of Coronavirus action handbooks for their centers.

------------------------------
Jennifer United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez 

I would be interested to learn more about the Coronaviurs action handbook, can you point me to the resource for that?

------------------------------
Patty Sinclair
Director
Dr. Franklin Perkins School
Lancaster MA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2020 01:01 AM
From: Jennifer Hatcher
Subject: Daycare...

It truly depends on your daycare. My daycare is private and just closed for two weeks due to the virus.

Illinois's governor says that childcare centers can remain open for first responders etc., but many centers feel the risk of infection is too great and are closing.

Health services/agencies may set specific guidelines for daycare centers,  but many of the guidelines cannot be followed by such young children. Examples are coughing and sneezing into tissues, proper handwashing, not touching their faces and so on.

Thankfully, directors are taking this into account and taking precautionary steps such as closures, deep cleaning procedures, and creation of Coronavirus action handbooks for their centers.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez 

Thank you ladies!
I do appreciate all your answers.  We still open, our daycare is under the 50 people (including stuff and kids) but I'm not sure about the "no more than 10 people " we will see. I pray that you all stay health and your love ones gals well. Blessings!!!

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Gabriela Rodriguez

Fort Wayne IN
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2020 07:46 AM
From: Patty Sinclair
Subject: Daycare...

I would be interested to learn more about the Coronaviurs action handbook, can you point me to the resource for that?

------------------------------
Patty Sinclair
Director
Dr. Franklin Perkins School
Lancaster MA

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2020 01:01 AM
From: Jennifer Hatcher
Subject: Daycare...

It truly depends on your daycare. My daycare is private and just closed for two weeks due to the virus.

Illinois's governor says that childcare centers can remain open for first responders etc., but many centers feel the risk of infection is too great and are closing.

Health services/agencies may set specific guidelines for daycare centers,  but many of the guidelines cannot be followed by such young children. Examples are coughing and sneezing into tissues, proper handwashing, not touching their faces and so on.

Thankfully, directors are taking this into account and taking precautionary steps such as closures, deep cleaning procedures, and creation of Coronavirus action handbooks for their centers.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez 

Hi Patty,

Our Coronavirus Action Handbook states the leadership chain of command (directors, openers and closers, sanitation procedures, etc.) It is very basic and just lays out things like what happens if a coronavirus case occurs in the school and so on.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2020 07:46 AM
From: Patty Sinclair
Subject: Daycare...

I would be interested to learn more about the Coronaviurs action handbook, can you point me to the resource for that?

------------------------------
Patty Sinclair
Director
Dr. Franklin Perkins School
Lancaster MA

Original Message:
Sent: 03-17-2020 01:01 AM
From: Jennifer Hatcher
Subject: Daycare...

It truly depends on your daycare. My daycare is private and just closed for two weeks due to the virus.

Illinois's governor says that childcare centers can remain open for first responders etc., but many centers feel the risk of infection is too great and are closing.

Health services/agencies may set specific guidelines for daycare centers,  but many of the guidelines cannot be followed by such young children. Examples are coughing and sneezing into tissues, proper handwashing, not touching their faces and so on.

Thankfully, directors are taking this into account and taking precautionary steps such as closures, deep cleaning procedures, and creation of Coronavirus action handbooks for their centers.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez 

Good morning. I've never been on this platform before either but I feel strongly about this topic. I believe child care should remain open ONLY for medical staff and first responders. And I think the centers that stay open for these people should be staffed by young, low risk teachers that are receiving hazard pay. I am 64 years old with high blood pressure and my husband is 74 with multiple respiratory and kidney issues. But I am required to work at least 8 hours a day. No discussion. This center is not going to close unless they are forced to. The majority of the families that are continuing to attend are families that are working from home. Doctors are warning that children CAN carry the virus and expose vulnerable adults at home. I feel it's irresponsible for owners to require the vulnerable population to work.

------------------------------
Helen Fern
owner/trainer
Early Learning Tools NW
Woodburn OR
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez 

Hi, 
The county issued the following order which we leveraged to then serve essential workers. Hope this helps for some as you can point to this as something that could help you in your local counties https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Pages/order-health-officer-031620.aspx  We do know that medical providers are having a hard time finding care for their children while they are at work treating patients.

Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in this Order to work as allowed. To the extent possible, childcare facilities must operate under the following mandatory conditions:

1. Childcare must be carried out in stable groups of 12 or fewer ("stable" means that the same 12 or fewer children are in the same group each day).
2. Children shall not change from one group to another.
3. If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room. Groups shall not mix with each other.
4. Childcare providers shall remain solely with one group of children.

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Janet Zamudio
Redwood City CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-18-2020 10:39 AM
From: Helen Fern
Subject: Daycare...

Good morning. I've never been on this platform before either but I feel strongly about this topic. I believe child care should remain open ONLY for medical staff and first responders. And I think the centers that stay open for these people should be staffed by young, low risk teachers that are receiving hazard pay. I am 64 years old with high blood pressure and my husband is 74 with multiple respiratory and kidney issues. But I am required to work at least 8 hours a day. No discussion. This center is not going to close unless they are forced to. The majority of the families that are continuing to attend are families that are working from home. Doctors are warning that children CAN carry the virus and expose vulnerable adults at home. I feel it's irresponsible for owners to require the vulnerable population to work.

------------------------------
Helen Fern
owner/trainer
Early Learning Tools NW
Woodburn OR

Original Message:
Sent: 03-15-2020 12:48 AM
From: Gabriela Rodriuez
Subject: Daycare...

Hi.

This is my 1st time using this platform , I work in a private daycare,  does anybody knows what will be the protocol to follow after pretty much all the public and private school system have close because of the virus??? 

Gabby Rodriguez