Secaucus Pulls Plug
on Day Care Center
Jun 22nd, 2011 | By Greg Hazley | Category:
On tap
Secaucus is getting out of the day care business next month as the affordable, but money-losing center off the Plaza is set to close its doors.
The child care operation, which lost about $105,000 last year, will run its 2011 summer program for 4, 5 and 6-year-olds but the daycare program will shut down July 15.
“It would have been untenable to adjust the rates, and unfair to parents,” said town administrator David Drumeler on the possibility of raising the fees.
In addition to the red ink, Drumeler said competition for the service is also on the rise as a new facility at the Xchange development is set to open and Saint Matthew’s Church is expanding its own program.
There are two other day care centers in town already, including Harmony in the Harmon Meadow area and Kiddie Castle on Humboldt Street.
About three dozens kids are enrolled in the facility.
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@Concerned citizen: Not sure if you’re talking about cost or quality, but for what it’s worth the aftercare program is profitable by about $45K I believe.
@commuter: No firm plans yet for the building. It is next to a fire house so maybe they’d take it over?
I wish that Secaucus would also give up running the aftercare at the elementary schools and turn it over to a reputable organization like the YMCA to run a quality aftercare and beforecare. Beforecare is currently not an option which makes it really difficult to get to work on time.
anyone know what will be done with this building?
They are going ot have Pre-K there next year. And it would be great to have before care at the schools, for so many parents it is hard to get into work on time when they have to drop their kids off at school.
It’s about time. The only reason it was opened by Elwell was to give a job making 80,000 a year. Keep cleaning the house Mayor Mike,
No, it opened for another reason. Remember who the director was/is.
Yes, i put that in my comment but this great web site took it out. Shows what side they are on, even when it’s the truth.
This is for “its just me” and “halfstoryanthony” both of you should get your facts straight……The person who runs this does not make $80000.00 a year and if she got the job because as you say”who she is”, she still has to be qualified,by state guidelines. And by the way how do most people in a Municipalities get there jobs. It’s because someone knows someone thats the way it works. Thats been going on for hundreds of years. I bet Mike has given people jobs just because he knows them so lets not go there.
I rest my case!
The problem with both the daycare and the school aftercare program is that those in charge choose to hire babysitters (Secaucus locals who need a job and don’t particularly work well with/like children) instead of quality childcare providers. The daycare lost money because parents had better options in town. But with the aftercare, parents are trapped. You either have to go with the subpar aftercare program or shell out tons of money to hire a nanny. I wish I could figure out a way to have my kids bussed to Rutherford’s YMCA-run before and aftercare program.
CC, do you know the staff? NO, so stop saying they are “unliked” and “dont work well with children”
Idea for you… move to Rutherford or here is another idea… watch your own kids!
my daughter works for the rec dept in the aftercare program. she is state certified to work in days care centers and is certified in first aid cpr and the use of a defribulator. is that not qualified childcare provider. and oh yea she will be working with the special need kids at the day camp. how do u even dare call my daughter sub par with those qualifications. i wish you pepole that mouth off here and know not what you take about would keep your stupid moths shut and let people that have constructive things to say talk. its always the same ones that open their mouths and dont know what they are talking about.
I agree with you Concerned citizen. They only got there jobs because of there connections to Elwell.
Logical citizen & Bob,
I’m sorry but my family has had a not so great experience with the aftercare program. From what I observed, the employees don’t seem that interested in interacting with the kids and a few of the care providers were just out right mean.
I like living in Secaucus and doubt I could afford to live in Rutherford. I am now watching my own kids. For what it’s worth, we have been beyond pleased and impressed with the kids’ recreation programs.
The day care center was excess at its very best. Who ever heard of a yearbook for very very young kids??? (that was probably pay for play, too. Wouldn’t be surprised.) Kids that age do not need yearbooks.
itsjustme, were the parents forced to buy yearbooks? I agree it’s hokey and unecessary, but does everything have to be a grand conspiracy with you guys?
Bob Jacobson and Logical Citizen, these people have EVERY RIGHT to state their opinions on these public programs paid for WITH OUR TAXES!!!!!
I personally know the director. She got her job straight out of college with VERY minimal experience. Sure, she was certified…but in the private sector, it takes education + experience most of the time to be given a leadership role. Her daddy clearly influenced her hiring due to the position he was in at the time. I’m sure there must have been dozens of applicants with far more experience…the only ones who suffered are the children who passed through that daycare center. Shameful.
I’m very happy it’s being shut down.
@ Concerned Citizen, I disagree with you regarding shutting down the aftercare program. it is affordable to all levels, keeps the kids safe in the same school building, so they don’t have to commute to another location, and last but not least, the staff is great especially the lady who runs it who is very energetic and friendly with her own staff, the kids and the parents. Maybe you had a bad experience, which was maybe an exception. what is wrong in having young people supervising the kids, it gives our teens an opportunity to find a closeby job instead of going other towns or faraway. I believe the aftercare staff doesn’t have to be all grown ups and certified, as long as they are under a responsible supervisor. They just stay with the kids for 3 hours and they help them in the homework as an extra service, but still we have to review it at home.
The only thing I agree with you at is the before care progam, I personally requested it from the previous principle at Clarendon School, but it didn’t meet acceptance. If the school receives a good number of request for that, I guess they will go for it or it could be funded by the PTA, it is just a maximum of 90 minutes deal of supervision for the early dropped kids.