Following an abrupt announcement TDCSS will cease operating its on-campus Child Care Centre, Northwest Community College says it is committed to finding a new licenced provider in the new year.
Terrace and District Community Services Society announced Tuesday, Dec. 12, that due to a significant staffing disruption it will end the service at the end of January 2018.
Michael McFetridge, TDCSS executive director, said due to circumstances out of the society’s control, it will no longer be able to meet the staffing requirements in the heavily-regulated industry of licensed daycare providers.
“Staffing complements must have specific and clear early-childhood education qualifications in order to care for children in a licensed environment,” McFetridge said. “TDCSS will no longer be able to meet these staffing requirements in any meaningful manner past January 26, 2018. Once this was determined TDCSS chose to give as much notice (6 weeks) to parents and staff.”
Both the TDCSS and NWCC say they are working hard to see a continuation of service past Jan. 26.
“We want parents and the community to know that Northwest Community College is committed to using this space on the Terrace campus as a daycare facility,” says NWCC President and CEO, Ken Burt. “We recognize the importance of the availability of daycare spaces in the community and will be working towards ensuring this space can be used by another provider.”
NWCC plans to begin a process of identifying a new provider of daycare services at the Terrace campus, but information about this process has not yet been made available.
“This is a very fast-moving situation and our staff are working hard to liaise with TDCSS and other community partners to seek the best outcome possible,” says Burt. “Having daycare services available on campus is important for our students, faculty, staff and the greater community.”