Spring Break
Budget cuts may stall child care
Care beneficial to faculty, staff
CAROLYN CRIST
Issue date: 10/14/08 Section: News
Budget cuts continue to hit all areas of campus - including child care - but the University may be able to propose on campus child care plans by November.
The UGA Child Care Needs Assessment Study conducted earlier this year was presented to faculty and staff, but the administration had to postpone child care ideas to examine the financial side.
Provost Arnett Mace and Tim Burgess, senior vice president for finance and administration, have been examining four options since the summer and plan to offer an option to President Michael Adams next month.
"They have been talking with vendors about various options available," said Tom Jackson, vice president for public affairs. "They were sidetracked by the budget problem and had to spend time working on that first."
On-campus child care continues to be of interest to faculty and staff, especially because the McPhaul Child Development Lab can only offer 93 spaces in the program. The program slots eight spaces for infants and adds three or four spaces for each age group. Children who enter the program typically attend every year, leaving little room for space.
"We have a wait list of typically one to three years," said Amy Kay, director of the lab. "Children tend to stay here, so there's not a lot of attrition or changing of rosters. Right now we have one space available in the 3-year-old class, which has never happened while I've been here. We're working toward filling the spot."
Karen Russell, an associate professor of journalism, expressed support for the McPhaul lab but also additional care on campus.
"The Child Development Lab at McPhaul is an amazing facility, and I'm lucky my child gets to go there," she wrote Monday in an e-mail to The Red & Black. "As a research facility the CDL does not need to be larger, but the campus definitely needs general daycare for children of faculty, staff and students. Parents shouldn't have to worry about their kids' safety or the learning environment, and too often that is the case with off-campus daycare."
The UGA Child Care Needs Assessment Study conducted earlier this year was presented to faculty and staff, but the administration had to postpone child care ideas to examine the financial side.
Provost Arnett Mace and Tim Burgess, senior vice president for finance and administration, have been examining four options since the summer and plan to offer an option to President Michael Adams next month.
"They have been talking with vendors about various options available," said Tom Jackson, vice president for public affairs. "They were sidetracked by the budget problem and had to spend time working on that first."
On-campus child care continues to be of interest to faculty and staff, especially because the McPhaul Child Development Lab can only offer 93 spaces in the program. The program slots eight spaces for infants and adds three or four spaces for each age group. Children who enter the program typically attend every year, leaving little room for space.
"We have a wait list of typically one to three years," said Amy Kay, director of the lab. "Children tend to stay here, so there's not a lot of attrition or changing of rosters. Right now we have one space available in the 3-year-old class, which has never happened while I've been here. We're working toward filling the spot."
Karen Russell, an associate professor of journalism, expressed support for the McPhaul lab but also additional care on campus.
"The Child Development Lab at McPhaul is an amazing facility, and I'm lucky my child gets to go there," she wrote Monday in an e-mail to The Red & Black. "As a research facility the CDL does not need to be larger, but the campus definitely needs general daycare for children of faculty, staff and students. Parents shouldn't have to worry about their kids' safety or the learning environment, and too often that is the case with off-campus daycare."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 10
Winfield J. Abbe
posted 10/14/08 @ 8:12 AM EST
Here is a suggestion to those who would have the state provide child care on campus at the expense or partial expense of taxpayers: If you do not have time to work and raise children, then quit your job and raise the children. (Continued…)
UGAChemDawg
posted 10/14/08 @ 3:01 PM EST
Having children is a choice and if making that choice means that you'll end up not being able to work as often or advance your career as much as you would be able to if you had chosen to not have children, then that's just too bad. (Continued…)
annoyed
posted 10/14/08 @ 3:37 PM EST
Winfield J Abby is an ignorant SOB who doesn't even deserve the attention of people replying to his comments. Every time i see his name i just pass over it because i know it comes from a piece of trash, ignorant being that doesn't even deserve to pass on his opinions and judgement and should probably just die. (Continued…)
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