Annoyed/amazed by daycare response to Mem Day flooding

[Anonymous]

The flooded area is still all sealed off, so you can't see what's happening. It's very haz-mat looking. I asked a church worker this week - who is there during the day and is aware of the progress - if he thought the closed rooms would re-open by the end of July. He just smirked and alluded to an August timeframe to be more likely. Of course these updates would be nice to know from the director since there hasn't been an update peep out of her for a couple of weeks.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, 19:04. That's helpful...though disappointing. Can't say I'm surprised. It did seem that the director started giving somewhat more regular updates so the fact that we haven't gotten one at all this week makes me a little nervous. Definitely not expecting to be back before August.

[Anonymous]

Despite this somewhat disturbing thread, i had decided to try and submit an application to get on the waitlist so that i hopefully have some options available come next summer when i will be desperate for daycare.

Unfortunately, i've tried calling both the child development center and the director numerous times, all days of the work week, at different times of day for the last 2 weeks with no success at getting through to anyone. Have also left 2 messages with no response.

For those of you who have children at the facility and in their care---how are you able to reach the center if there is an issue?? I can't even find out about their current tuition rates (online it has 2009 rates) and ask for an application, let alone get through to someone if i had a child there and heaven forbid an emergency came up...

[Anonymous]

Most parents at the Center avoid the director and deal direct with the teachers. The majority of the teachers are incredibly responsive and proactive in communicating with the parents. I'm a parent of a child in one of the closed rooms and while I hear very few updates directly from the director, our teacher calls us weekly to check-in on our child and let us know that she's thinking about us. Those are the things that makes the Center special, despite the director being a mess. The best way to reach the director is likely to go into the school, but don't go from 7/25-8/5 as the director will be on vacation (!?!).

[Anonymous]

Echoing 22:19 - our teachers are great! There's an extension to each room and we call that directly to check on our baby (well, usually, we're among those in the flooded rooms). The teachers are also good about calling us if something comes up. Aside from the director, I think there's great communication. But, yeah, the director is a mess and best avoided.

The outdated website is annoying since it still mentions NAEYC accreditation (they no longer have it) and doesn't provide current info. Infant tuition is $1375/month. A bargain compared to many DC centers though, when it comes to the director, you get what you pay for. But my daughter's teachers are fabulous, the outdoor space is really nice, the location is great (for us) and I really enjoy the other families we've gotten to know.

[Anonymous]

To those on the wait list for a slot in the closed rooms, the new estimated timeline for reopening the closed rooms is mid-August. To be on the safe side, you should assume that all will continue to not move according to plan, so hope for reopening by late August/early September. <sigh>

[Anonymous]

The director's e-mails seem increasingly defensive. That and the pastor getting involved have me wondering (though this is entirely speculation) whether there may be any talk or/potential that the director could be asked to leave. I don't want to start rumors but does anyone know if that's on the table?

I have friends with older kids who were there years ago - different director - and it sounds like it was fantastic. Many of the same great teachers and a capable director. I would love to be able to say that FBC-CDC is awesome and not have to qualify it the way I do now with "except for the director".

[Anonymous]

I think the pastor getting involved and throwing in some $ is the result of the church starting to understand (although way too late!) that the lack of communication with parents is hurting their financial bottom line and is leaving a lasting negative PR footprint. We have been at the Center many years and have watched as they lose more and more families who go there for infant/toddler care and then bolt to another facility when their children turn 3. At least 6 families have departed the center as a result of this flooding fiasco and the church is now feeling the financial and PR ramifications of poor proactive communication. I have a hard time believing they would fire the director because her salary is low based on the market value for a center director, but I do think the church is quickly seeing that they are getting what they paid for.

[Anonymous]

I am really surprised that everyone seems so happy with the teachers. My son was in 2 rooms while he was at fbc cdc and both rooms seemed to have at least one teacher who would never get up, and one who was always on her cell phone, even while I waited for them to ask how his day was. I spoke with other parents who always felt the same. They seemed to agree that teachers as well as director were lacking. I will say they are very nice, but compared to other daycares the difference is mind boggling.

[Anonymous]

14:40 - can I ask what age room your son was in with the cell phone teacher? I've heard less than great things about some of the teachers of older kids but my daughter is in one of the infant rooms (if they ever open again) and we've really liked our teachers. I'm among those who have sung their praises on here. But I am nervous about when she moves up. That, plus the director and this whole debacle, is why we're eagerly searching out other options for when she's no longer an infant - and possibly sooner. I've found the infant teachers in our room - TB, if you're curious - to be really attentive, loving and knowledgeable. I really appreciate hearing about other experiences though. Especially being new to this whole parenting thing and not really knowing what to expect from childcare (or otherwise!).

[Anonymous]

17:28. 14:40 here. We also have another child at a different preschool nearby that we love. Since our boy switched rooms and was in the school for only a year, I would prefer not to tell the room. I think many will know who we are. I will say however that I have heard that one of the toddler rooms- not the one our son was in- is wonderful. But we did not get that room, and were not so thrilled. We have moved him to what was our second choice after the flood happened, and we will see where this leads.
In the other preschools and daycares our kids were at, we never had to worry about what room we had. They were all great options.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any updates? I was intrigued by the e-mail saying that one of the Pastors wanted to reach out to the families that have been displaced but there hasn't been any follow up. Curious too if any of the timelines for work the director talked about were actually met.

Can't believe that next week will be the start of the 9th (right??) week of this.

[Anonymous]

I haven't heard a peep about the outreach or any timeline updates. The flooded areas are still sealed off, so it's hard to sneak a peek at the progress. Yes, it has been a long 9 weeks and I don't think we're out of the woods yet! The director is still out on vacation (!), so I think everyone else is trying to pick up the slack and keep their rooms running. I do find it amusing that the 'funded' outreach was mentioned, but not a word about it since.

[Anonymous]

Last update said mid august for just some of the rooms.

[Anonymous]

From the update it sounds like more and more work is being added - now they have to do more air tests and clean the air ducts? All before the drywall and, presumably, the carpet, can be replaced? I have to imagine the way this has been dragged out has contributed to this additional work. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed report to understand what exactly happened and why the damage seems so much more extensive than one would have expected from "the flood".

We're hoping to just get into another center and not have to go back to FBC but with waitlists what they are, it seems unlikely. Then again, who knows how much longer everything will take at FBC.