PARENT MEMO

TO:            ALL PARENTS

FROM:       PHIL ACORD, CEO

DATE:        MAY 14, 2020

We have been working hard to determine the best timeline for the reopening of our childcare centers.  We know many of you must return to work, and we appreciate your patience as we have worked to make a thoughtful decision.  After many discussions and meetings, we have come up with a long list of new procedures and a reopening date of Friday, May 22nd.

I want to assure you that we have spent a lot of time reviewing the CDC guidelines for the opening of childcare centers and making plans for how to implement as many of them as possible.  We have developed many new protocols that you will receive from the center Director.  You should read these new safety protocols thoroughly and sign and date the last page.  You will need to turn in a signed copy on May 22nd, or whenever you bring your child back.  Please note that parents will not be allowed to enter the building, so drop off and pick up will happen outside the front door.  We ask for your patience and request that you stand at least six feet from the family in front of you in line.

Staff training on these procedures will occur next week to make sure they are all comfortable with implementing them.   Furthermore, in order to ensure that we are doing everything we can to keep your child safe, we are going to require every staff member to have a negative COVID-19 test before returning to work.  We realize that this does not mean that someone can’t contract the virus after testing, but it is one more way to keep the virus out of our buildings and to help you feel comfortable about bringing your child back. 

However, if you aren’t ready for your child to return, we understand.  We will not charge you until your child returns.  We will hold your spot until Monday, July 6th.  Please keep in touch with us if you do not want to immediately return but plan to be back on or before July 6th. 

We are making one other change that we have discussed internally for many years.  This seemed like the right time to begin a new schedule for charging fees.  So, beginning on Monday, May 25th, we will charge your account on Mondays for care that week.  We encourage you to pay your fee early in the week, but you have until Friday to pay.  After that, your account is considered past due.  Please note that we will not charge for care on Friday, May 22nd.  Charging will begin for all children who have returned on Monday, May 25th. 

Again, thank you for being patient with us during this uncertain time.  We hope that you will help us keep our staff and your children safe as we navigate a safe reopening.  If you have any concerns, please reach out to your site Director.  We hope that you are safe and healthy, and we look forward to seeing all of our little friends in classrooms and hallways soon.