The early education center, at Meramec and Forest Park serving children 3 – 7 years old while students attended classes, officially closed on July 1, 2010.
By: Shane Rice
-Asst. News Editor-
The loss of award winning athletic teams, changes in administration and the closing of the day care centers at STLCC-Meramec and Forest Park, brought controversy among the board of trustees, the students, and faculty/staff during the 2009-2010 academic year.
On Nov. 19, 2009, the STLCC board of trustees voted 4-2 that the closing of the day care centers was necessary for the growth of STLCC. Joann Ordinachev, Denise Chachere, Melissa Hattman, and Robert Nelson all voted in favor of closing the centers, while Libby Fitzgerald and Margo McNeil voted to keep them open.
“Is it the responsibility of the community college to provide day care service?” asked former board of trustees member Robert Nelson prior to the vote.
The early education center, at Meramec and Forest Park serving children 3 – 7 years old while students attended classes, officially closed on July 1, 2010.
“We were losing $1,000 per student each year by providing that much service and by closing those child care centers, it saved us $500,000 a year,” said board of trustees member Margo McNeil.
McNeil, who voted to keep the center open, said even though STLCC was providing wonderful facilities and excellent teachers, the college could no longer afford to pay the subsidy of the child care center.
Since the vote, every board of trustees meeting has been swamped with questions and pleas from students asking the board to reverse their decision. The board responded to the complaints on May 19, 2010.
“It is our primary responsibility as board members to ensure that the college is fiscally responsible and healthy,” board Chairwoman Ordinachev said. “While eliminating or reducing programs or services of the college is not an easy decision, it is, nonetheless, a responsibility we as board members take most seriously.”
Ordinachev said that the cost for subsidizing both facilities was nearly $600,000 annually, which was disproportionate to other instructional costs absorbed by colleges.
According to reports from the vice presidents of academic affairs at Forest Park and Meramec, “Only 209 students out of a total of over 19,000 attending Meramec and Forest Park use the day care services.”
Earline Powell, campus manager for the day care center at Meramec, painted a different picture. According to Powell, approximately 280 students and 300 children used the day care facility at Meramec throughout the year.
“We were more than just a day care center,” said Powell. “We provided support for the parents with counseling, and more than that, we gave parents the opportunity to better their future not only for themselves but for their children.”
Powell said that she believes one of the hardest problems students are going to face is finding quality child care that is affordable and accessible.
“There has been a loss of some students because without day care service they cannot attend school,” said Powell.
According to Powell, the idea behind these centers was not to make money but to provide a student service. However, arguments between students and board members have been exactly that, the inability to afford and maintain these facilities.
Another concern raised by students at board meetings is that the day care center at STLCC-Florissant Valley will remain open. Vice Chancellor Carla Chance said, “Flo Valley is a lab-school and takes public enrollment.”
Chance said the public will pay anywhere from $100-$150 a week, depending on the age of the child, and this assists with the revenue needed to maintain that facility. Even though Meramec does have certain labs that assist with the day care center, it is not considered a lab school.
“Parents, children, and the faculty of the center are all just devastated,” said Powell.
The final awards ceremony for the children brought tears, she said.
“One child asked me if I was closing the center because I didn’t like them anymore; all I could do was cry,” said Powell.
On June 30, 2010, faculty and staff of the Meramec Center packed the last of their belongings and said goodbye. According to Powell and other faculty, the day care brought hope and inspiration to young growing minds and adults looking for a chance, a future.
“I just wish the board had kept the children in mind because I believe what affects children will affect our future,” said Powell.
