Trustees kicked off a debate at their last school board meeting about whether or not there should be a place in our public schools for private daycare operators. Should they encourage such operators or shut the door to them?

KRIS SCHUMACHER

The idea of having private daycares in schools is by no means a new one, but one that deserves some serious consideration for Prince Rupert.

While it is clear that there is a need for more daycare services in the city, allowing a private business to set up shop inside of public elementary schools crosses to many ethical boundaries. First, it gives that daycare a distinct and strong advantage over all other daycare services, for the simple fact its location is the most convenient for parents.

Also, kids who attended that school could be picked up from their classroom by the daycare staff, giving parents one less thing to worry about in their day.

This factor alone would be enough to have many parents throughout the city scrambling to enroll their younger children in that particular school, and would give that school an enormous advantage over all others.

An advantageous situation already exists at … Daycare centre, which operates right across the street from Westview Elementary, but there is a huge difference between that situation and operating within the school itself.

The complications that will arise from district approval of this idea will far outweigh the small advantages that will be reaped by the community.

EARLE GALE

Trustees are right to be cautious but daycares in schools would be good for parents, the school district and, most importantly, the kids.

Trustees debated the idea at the last school board meeting but were doubtless worried that opening the door to private enterprise in schools could end up with companies being allowed inside to do such things as janitorial work, groundkeeping, maintenance and other non-teaching work. Such contracting-out often costs less in the short-term but critics insist quality and accountability are usually the long-term casualties.

The trouble is, the argument doesn't stand up when it comes to daycares for two reasons: first, the private sector is already in our schools (and is being kept small - think of the Scholastic books kids are constantly being asked to buy, the vending machines, the entertainers who are paid to visit our schools and so on), and, second, private daycares are being allowed in other school districts up and down the province without the feared crumbling of the walls that protect unionized school district jobs.

The fact is, we have a dire need for more daycare space in this town. They would be welcome wherever they were but if they are located in schools, they would be particularly useful. The school district is legally able to let the private daycares open in our schools. It is also able to write a bylaw labouring the point that while private daycares are OK, additional private enterprise is not. The district could also make some useful money from the arrangement….

Schools are not made with cookie cutters. Neither should they be.