Daycares in schools work
The Daily News (Prince Rupert)
15 Oct 2007
By: Judith Schwarz

To the editor,

Regarding last Friday's article about the school board's debate about whether daycare centres should be allowed to operate in schools (Daycares in schools debated, Daily News, Oct. 12), I would like express my support for daycares in schools.

Westview Childcare Centre which is located next to Ecole Westview School has been using space in that school for the past couple of years. It is a non-profit society run by a board of directors. To my knowledge, and with my experience having my daughter attend their after-school program for the past four years, this program has been approved by the community care licencing officer and has never in any way interfered with the day-to-day operation of the school.

Yes, one reason we did choose that school was because it has the daycare centre right next to it, which made it very convenient for us as working parents. But most other local elementary schools have programs that make parents choose them over other schools.

If the school trustees believe that one school has an advantage over another by running a certain program or providing more opportunities to students and their parents, then most of the many programs that already exist in our schools could be eliminated.

Don't the preschool programs Hub and Strong Start give the schools that have them an advantage by making those who visit them more familiar with that school and those parents are more likely to send their child to that school? Are these programs taking "business" away from the preschools? …

The school board prides itself in making decisions to the benefit of the most vulnerable students in our district, as was the case recently when a motion was voted down to extend the 2008 spring break. One of the reasons was that allowing a longer spring break would put a burden on families with children in day care. Now, it appears that some trustees are not so worried about them anymore.

Yes, allowing not-for-profit day care operators to use unused school space would give them an advantage over 'off school operators'. But isn't any additional day care space mainly to the benefit of the family using it and not so much the organization providing it.

It is my hope that the school board in the end follows the precedent it has set in their 2008 spring break decision and keeps the needs of the students in mind. ….