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May 19, 2009 3:56 pm US/Central
Grand Prairie ISD To Open School Daycare Centers
Arezow Doost
GRAND PRAIRIE (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The Grand Prairie Independent School District Board has approved money to provide daycare for some teachers.
In an April bond package, $95,000 was approved to start renovating part of Whitt Elementary School, in the 3300 block of Edelweiss Drive. Several old classrooms at the school will be turned into the daycare center for the children of teachers.
Officials with the district says it's a trend they're seeing around the state. The daycare center will be licensed through the State of Texas and will employ five 'caregivers' to care for 23 pre-kindergarten kids.
"We are looking at it as a perk for our employees," explained the GPISD Assistant Superintendent for Education Support, Sandra De La Cruz. "They see it as one of their benefits."
The daycare will be open to all GPISD employees, but space will be limited to a first come basis and teachers will pay all daycare fees. Tuition will range from $95 to $135. Children from 6 weeks to 5-years-old can enroll; a small number of children with disabilities will also be accepted.
"Whitt employees will have first dibs on spots, but the program will be open to all district employees on a first-come-first-served basis," explained De La Cruz.
The daycare will be open while teachers are in class and 'caregivers' will remain until the teachers' school day is done.
Karen Becker will soon be introducing her school family, to her own family. "I'm thrilled," she said. "It's going to be fun to bring him [her son] to school and drop him off down the hall."
Becker will be dropping off her 10-month-old at her elementary school's new daycare center. The daycare will be just footsteps from her music class.
Construction at Whitt Elementary will begin as soon as classes end for the summer. District officials say the daycare will be up and running in time for the 2009 fall semester.
"In any other situation there is no way, at a lunch break, I would be able to go see him, get a hug and then go back to class," Becker said smiling.
The Grand Prairie ISD is planning to open a similar daycare at Crosswinds High School, but that facility will be for the children of teen parents.
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