Op-Ed Columns

No one relishes change, least of all parents of young children who often have trouble adjusting to new environments. Quality child care is not easy to find in most areas of the country, and we know it is particularly challenging in this area.

Jacksonville State University opened its Child Development Center at McClellan in August 2003 with every intention of running a quality and cost-effective program. Unfortunately, the quality has been there, but the program has been losing money for five years.

We felt that despite the annual financial loss, the benefit to the community and to the university outweighed the financial drain. But today, when university budgets are stretched like never before, we find we can no longer absorb losses that exceed $400,000 a year.

In order to continue to provide child care through the existing facility, JSU began the process in March of seeking proposals for taking over the day-care facility at McClellan. We received a proposal from an individual who was deemed an excellent candidate, and we have contracted with her to continue to provide day-care services at the same facility. She submitted a viable business plan and we have every reason to expect that she will run a quality facility.

To clarify a few facts: We had hoped to notify parents of the impending changes before they read about them in the newspaper, but we do not announce policy changes until the contracts are signed by both parties. The Star published a story just as the contracts were being signed. We are truly sorry about the way parents and teachers learned of this decision. The staff has known for some time about the center's financial challenges and they and others have known that a restructuring of the center might be inevitable.

While the new operator is talking with existing staff about the possibility of continuing employment, we do know that some individuals will lose their jobs. JSU's leadership is saddened by this reality.

The new operator will be renting the building and furniture. (Other items are being moved to the day-care center on the JSU campus, where a part-time program has been operating for more than 40 years.) The new operator intends to commence operations on Aug. 1; however, because the licensing procedures might run past that date, JSU wants to assure parents that there will be no break in service until the new license is obtained.

We want the parents and the community to know that we understand they have a difficult time finding quality child care, and we will do anything we can to provide a smooth transition into the new operation.

We know this has been a blow to teachers and parents at the CDC; we deeply regret this. Again, in this day and age in which all of us are being squeezed financially, some changes must be made. We plan to go forward together and make this new arrangement a success.

Cynthia Harper is dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies at Jacksonville State University.