Care programs at risk
Cariboo Press - Kitimat Northern Sentinel
February 4, 2009

The clock is ticking to get the head count up at the Kildala and Nechako Elementary out-of-school care.

The Kitimat Child Development Centre (CDC) is running out-of-school care and kindercare at both schools but are approximately six students shy of hitting their minimum.

"Our numbers are low in both Kildala and Nechako schools," said CDC executive director Margaret Warcup. "They're almost break even, but they're just not there yet and I can't run at a loss."

The CDC board has established a deadline of Easter to bring enrolment up - either full-time or part-time - before the program gets terminated.

"We've minimized our costs as much as possible and we need to look at other creative ways we might be able to minimize them," Warcup added….

The CDC was entertaining the idea of closing one program and having it entirely located in one location, but it doesn't have a way to transport the kids.

Letters have been sent out to the Parent Advisory Committees and also to the school board to see if there is any way they can help the program out.

She noted the Coast Mountains school district is charging a very reasonable rate for rent but is hoping more can be done, perhaps in the way of waiving the rent entirely to make the program more viable….