Editorials

There are more daunting assignments in Calhoun County than securing a spot in a quality day care. Clearly, it's not an unfeasible task. But that's not the point.

Ask any parent who's spent months seeking a child-care facility that offers competence and affordability — and openings — and you'll see why day care in Calhoun County is one of our area's top priorities. It's just as critical for single-parent families as it is for those in which both parents work outside the home.

The ongoing, much-publicized saga of Jacksonville State's Child Development Center has illustrated why any turmoil in the day-care industry sends shock waves throughout the county. At its heart, JSU's decision to outsource its CDC is purely fiscal, and understandable. The center at McClellan has an annual $400,000 deficit and the state Legislature is cutting the university's overall budget. Something — many things, as we're learning — must give.

Above ground, criticism for how JSU handled the decision, including the issuing of an unauthorized letter sent to parents of some CDC children, has dominated discussions of the change. And, yes, JSU has made some errors in notification and communication with the parents who've entrusted their children's well-being to the center's staff.

But underneath the story of the CDC's outsourcing is the fear of every working parent who relies on day care: What would those 100-plus families do if they had to seek another facility on short notice? Thankfully, JSU says there will be no break in service. But that doesn't lessen concerns about finding quality day care in Calhoun County. Viable, attractive options aren't plentiful.

That is the point.

This is no suggestion that there aren't excellent day-care centers in our towns. That's not the case. The problem is there isn't enough of them, and the few with sparkling reputations and reputable backgrounds have interminably long waiting lists. It's not just an anecdote around town to say that if you think you're going to get pregnant, go ahead and put your family's name on the day care's list.

The reality is that there is no easy answer. Day cares vary in shape and size; some are secular, others are faith-based. And it seems the fees won't stop rising. But good ones that tender something more than eight hours of baby-sitting and TV-watching aren't used-car dealerships. Good ones aren't on every street corner.

The other reality is that working parents comfortable with their child's day care are lucky. Their care is secure, for now. But that hasn't lessened concerns for the parents who need quality, high-end day care, but can't find it. In that sense, those parents are all part of one big family. They feel each other's pain.