Daycare Providers Struggle As Classes In CNY Remain Online Daycare Centers Struggle As Classrooms Remain

Daycare providers struggle under state capacity limits and hybrid learning.

Madison Hilimire: Many schools in Central New York have empty classrooms, as they have transitioned into virtual learning this school year. But for parents who work full-time, their child still has to learn somehow. This puts stress on daycare centers, who’s living rooms become classrooms. Bryson Blair is in preschool and his mother Corinne Blair, who works full-time, had no other option but to send him to daycare.

Corinne Blair: He loves it. And as a parent I was very nervous sending him, but I didn’t have an option. I can’t stay home. Well I could but, ya know, I’d have to quit. And I can’t do that.

Hilimire: Daycare providers now have to become math teachers, art teachers, and even music teachers. Chrissy Saucier had to take on that challenge, all while raising rates and taking on less kids because of capacity limits.

Chrissy Saucier: So when I released my new contract in September I raised all of my rates a couple dollars, just in general, across the board. Because I am in such high demand as a caregiver.

Hilimire: Saucier also has to follow strict state guidelines when it comes to cleaning.

Saucier: After moving from each toy group or moving to the next activity, we wash our hands. Just so like that kind of cross contamination can be taken down. And then the cleaning protocols at night are just insanity.

Hilimire: Saucier has to spray every toy that was played with that day with bleach water, and wipe down the rest of the house.

Madison Hilimire, N-C-C News

Syracuse, NY (NCC News)-  As schools across Central New York remain remote or completely online, daycare providers are suffering. Not only do they have to care for the children, they also have to become teachers.

Chrissy Saucier is a daycare provider in Waterloo, New York. She has been an in-home daycare provider for about 16 years now. In 16 years she has never raised her rates. But because the kids she provides for are now online learning, she says she felt as though she had to raise them.

“So when I released my new contract in September, I raised all of my rates a couple dollars, just in general, across the board,” Saucier said. “Because I am in such high demand as a caregiver.”

She also added a 20-dollar fee, that includes teaching zoom classes, on top of the daily rate.

“It’s nothing against the parents, it’s not like I’m trying to punish them,” Saucier said. “But at the same time, I feel like I’m doubling my workload by essentially having to assist the children in doing everything.”

Saucier has had to follow strict capacity limits provided by New York State, and has had to turn down clients. She also has to thoroughly clean her house everyday, spraying bleach water on the toys that the kids used that day.

“After moving from each toy group, or moving to the next activity, we go and wash our hands,” Saucier said. “Just so like that kind of cross contamination can be taken down.”

But even though Saucier has to follow all of these restrictions, she still provides care five days a week.

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