Plans are underway for a Day Care Center for families in the Skinker-DeBaliviere area.
Eight residents and three graduate students from the School of Social Work at Washington University are energetically seeking funding for a permanent center and planning a summer day care program in temporary headquarters this summer.
Educational director of the center, Mrs. Cherie McKee, 6110 Westminster, states that the summer program for four and five year old children will open June 17 for a ten-week period. Several locations in churches and a school in the area have been proposed. Funding is being sought from the Mayor’s Youth Council and the Human Development Corporation. Tuition will be based on ability to pay. The board hopes to employ teenagers as teaching assistants full-time in the summer and part-time in the winter. Washington University is providing a shuttle bus for field trips this summer.
The plans for the permanent year-round center are dependent on a grant of at least $25,000 to $31,000 a year. The board is seeking foundation or federal grants, contributions from businesses or individuals. They plan to have a full-day educational program for pre-schoolers of working mothers and a program for kindergarten children whose mothers work.
Mrs. McKee and Miss Charlene Brischetto, Washington University Community Developer for the project, believe that a day care center is one of the top priority needs of the community.
Mrs. McKee explained, “The nursery schools in the area only offer a half-day program. This leaves working mothers out in the cold, especially those who cannot afford private day care costs. There is a high percentage of families with pre-schoolers in our area and families who need mother’s income.”
The Board of the Day Care Center includes: Mr. and Mrs. Doug McKee; Willie Armstrong, 5829 DeGiverville; Ernest Garrett, 5960 McPherson; Mr. and Mrs. Scott Johnson, 5841 Nina; Mr. and Mrs. Jim Sporleder, 6172 Washington; Jack White, instructor and graduate student in the School of Social Work at Washington University; Miss Charlene Brischetto; and Miss Gilda Stern, graduate social work student. The four students working on the project are Sue Bartlett, Jackie Schauer, Barbara Levine and Dennis Wolff.
Anyone interested in helping should call Mrs. Sharon Johnson, 725-3438.
