The childcare centre at the College of New Caledonia is more than just a day care.
That coming from Early Childhood Educator Jessica Marshall, whose centre is facing a possible closure due to a 1.2 million dollar deficit in the college’s budget.
One of the college’s arguments is that the centre isn’t being used to its capacity, as spokesman Randall Heidt says only half of the children belong to students.
“The intention for the daycare was for it to support students. And only seven children of the 15 currently in there belong to students. We were hoping it would be better utilized.”
Marshall says the centre is used for much more than taking care of children.
“The childcare centre was not soley going to based on service just for the students and staff of the college but it was also established as a demonstration daycare for the early Childcare Education Program that CNC still provides right now.”
A final decision will be made at the board’s meeting on April 25th.
The move could save the college 240 thousand dollars in 2014/15, and 50 thousand in the following years.