Important SLCC School Age Program Changes
As we approach a new school year with the COVID Virus, schools and daycare facilities are facing complicated decisions. Our Board has been meeting daily for the past two weeks to design a program that meets parent’s needs, but also protects children and teachers. Adding transportation dynamics have further muddied the waters. Unfortunately, like most schools, we are going to have to limit and/or adjust some of the services we can provide.
We understand that these changes will bring challenges for you as parents. For that reason, we want to share a little more about the dilemma that transportation presents for all of us. As you know, each of your children’s schools will be working hard to separate the children by classroom. The purpose of this, of course, is to limit the viral exposure to the smallest group possible. If Children’s Centers are not careful, they can undo this important work if they do not understand the risks involved in transporting kids. Imagine for a moment that one of our 15 passenger vans picks up 5 kids each from 3 different schools (the normal pre-COVID pattern). Potentially all 15 kids would have come from 15 different classrooms (viral groupings). Our board has determined that this just isn’t safe. We considered cancelling our transportation program entirely, but have opted for a carefully planned, limited program. For the duration of the pandemic, our SAP/Transport program will be adjusted in the following ways:
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- Seeing that many parents have chosen a remote learning option, we have decided to offer an All-Day SAP program. This group will be available to students who have opted out of attending a district school in person. These students will be isolated to a single 15 student-max classroom and each class will have a “firewall” built around it consisting of a “one teacher/one class/all day” environment, so that parents can be assured that their children will have minimal exposure. In addition, we will have all of the normal social distancing (temperature checks, face masks, 3-6’ spacing, hand washing, disinfecting, etc.) in place. We believe that it is possible (maybe even likely) that schools will be forced to close at least temporarily this fall. The best way SLCC can serve is to let our parent community know that we can accommodate over 200 kids in full-time daycare, if needed. Of course, this program will provide no transportation as the kids will not be in district schools.
The hours for this program will be limited to 7:30am – 5:30pm. As we have discussed in previous communications, this is the longest day possible while keeping the one teacher/1 class firewall in place… we simply cannot ask teachers to work longer days. If you have an opportunity, please thank a teacher for their willingness to work 10 hour days to serve/protect your family.
Like all daycares, we are not set-up to teach like a normal school. Parents will be expected to carry the load of their child’s school work in the evenings, weekends, etc. However, as the opportunity presents itself, at the minimum we will provide WIFI access and designated times for the kids to study during the day. We also may provide some level of homework assistance.
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- State regulations regarding disinfecting vehicles makes using our vans multiple times a day extremely difficult. We have tried to find a work-around for this dilemma, without success. For this reason, it is necessary for us to not offer both a before and after school transportation program this fall. Unfortunately, this means that we will not have any before school care/transportation available. Only an after school transport/care program will be offered. This is a significant change to our program, and we know this will be difficult for many families. Along with you, we are still waiting for the school districts to communicate what their programs and requirements will be, and each change affects us. We want you to know if there was any way to provide before-school care and keep kids/teachers safe, we would have done it.
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- We have set a goal (a “soft limit”) of no more than 2/3 a vehicle’s normal capacity for the after school transportation program (for instance a 15 passenger van will have a target 10 capacity). This will allow students to socially distance appropriately in vans or buses, and matches the transportation policies just announced by D-2. Children in the after-school transportation program will be required to wear a mask and sit one body width apart at the minimum. Each classroom will follow the same “firewall” policies (15 max classrooms, one teacher, and follow the safety precautions mentioned above). Anyone enrolled and attending our after-school program will be given priority in the Full-Day program if your school closes.
Regarding exposure to COVID, and potential quarantines/school closures:
Every child enrolling or entering our program will be required to fill out a questionnaire stating that they have not been exposed to COVID from schools, families or other social environments. Depending on their level of exposure, they will be required to observe a 10 to 14-day quarantine. Every parent should consider this possibility (as well as school closures) and plan accordingly.
As with schools, the temperature of every child will be checked as they enter our vehicles, and again as they enter the program. The child will not be allowed in the vehicle, or into the program, with a temperature above 100.4. Masks will be required at all times while indoors (parents should provide these, but SLCC will provide masks if needed). SLCC has spacious outdoor play areas and we will attempt to spend as much time outdoors as possible. At this point, per state law, masks are optional while outdoors.
I want to conclude by saying that we really have tried to provide every service we can and still keep kids safe. You are our heroes! We see the sacrifices you make for your kids every day, and we have tried to design a program that meets the needs of the greatest amount of families. We are aware and saddened that we cannot meet every family’s needs. Please feel free to email back any comments or suggestions. Like every school and family, we are doing the best we can in this difficult season.
Hang In There!
Dan Finnegan
SLCC Board President
Board Input – dfinnegan@springsoflife.org
Enrollments – 719-287-1500, ext. 1, enrollments@springsoflife.org
Executive Director/Preschool Program Questions – Charlene McQueen – cmqueen@springsoflife.org
School Age Director – Jessica Moebs – jmoebs@springsoflife.org
Transportation Department – John Salinas – jsalinas@springsoflife.org
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