DayCare With High Turnover Rates?

[Anonymous]

My husband and I had a baby in September. He will be 6 months old in May when he goes to daycare. We are interested in a daycare that is an 8 minute walk from our house, but there has been a large number of turnover with daycare workers in the past couple of months. Parents still seem to be happy, but that concern us. I heard that it's due to the current director from one father that has a child enrolled there. We have put out names on the waitlist another daycare ( 1.5 miles away), but an 8 minute walk ( 0.3 miles) is very convenient. I will be walking or using public transit. Would you consider this daycare still or use a different one?

[Anonymous]

* sorry. He will 6 months old when he does to daycare at the end of March.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t. I know the convenience of a daycare within walking distance is better, but I wouldn’t want my child in a daycare where he won’t have consistent teachers watching him.

[Anonymous]

When the recession hits in six months, teachers will stay at their jobs. THe industry has high turnover in general, but two other macro factors have contributed to higher turnover: 1. an unprecedented period of economic growth in the past decade, 2. state/county pushes to increase minimum wage. This has created many job alternatives and has put so much labor cost pressure on day care centers that it's just really hard to retain qualified staff.

That's not to say the director isn't also problematic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When the recession hits in six months, teachers will stay at their jobs. THe industry has high turnover in general, but two other macro factors have contributed to higher turnover: 1. an unprecedented period of economic growth in the past decade, 2. state/county pushes to increase minimum wage. This has created many job alternatives and has put so much labor cost pressure on day care centers that it's just really hard to retain qualified staff.

That's not to say the director isn't also problematic.

I'd also add that teacher turnover really only matters in your specific class and is very unpredictable. My kids were at a daycare/preschool that had very low turnover (like, half the industry average) but my older child still lost a teacher 3 different times over 4 years (remember, there are typically 2 teachers and a floater or so for most classes). Also, despite better or worse management practices and emphasis on qualifications, some classes will be staffed with absolutely wonderful and caring teachers while others might be staffed with someone who has an alcohol problem and is prone to accidentally putting kids into unsafe situations. I was on the board of a large regional daycare so I have seen all of this. My main point is that I don't think you can judge a daycare on recent turnover and based on what a dad told you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When the recession hits in six months, teachers will stay at their jobs. THe industry has high turnover in general, but two other macro factors have contributed to higher turnover: 1. an unprecedented period of economic growth in the past decade, 2. state/county pushes to increase minimum wage. This has created many job alternatives and has put so much labor cost pressure on day care centers that it's just really hard to retain qualified staff.

That's not to say the director isn't also problematic.

OP here. 4 of the former teachers all posted negative reviews citing their choice to leave was due to the director. They said she was incapable, rude, and had no idea how to run a daycare. She picked favorites and started hiring friends/family over more qualified applicants. I know daycare workers don't get paid that much but they all cited issues with the director and management as the reasons they were leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the recession hits in six months, teachers will stay at their jobs. THe industry has high turnover in general, but two other macro factors have contributed to higher turnover: 1. an unprecedented period of economic growth in the past decade, 2. state/county pushes to increase minimum wage. This has created many job alternatives and has put so much labor cost pressure on day care centers that it's just really hard to retain qualified staff.

That's not to say the director isn't also problematic.

I'd also add that teacher turnover really only matters in your specific class and is very unpredictable. My kids were at a daycare/preschool that had very low turnover (like, half the industry average) but my older child still lost a teacher 3 different times over 4 years (remember, there are typically 2 teachers and a floater or so for most classes). Also, despite better or worse management practices and emphasis on qualifications, some classes will be staffed with absolutely wonderful and caring teachers while others might be staffed with someone who has an alcohol problem and is prone to accidentally putting kids into unsafe situations. I was on the board of a large regional daycare so I have seen all of this. My main point is that I don't think you can judge a daycare on recent turnover and based on what a dad told you.

OP here. They lost 4 teachers in one class over a 4 month period.

[Anonymous]

I would not. Turnover is a sign of low quality.

EXCEPT that a new director could be getting rid of bad apples that the previous director kept for whatever reason. I think you need to do some more digging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the recession hits in six months, teachers will stay at their jobs. THe industry has high turnover in general, but two other macro factors have contributed to higher turnover: 1. an unprecedented period of economic growth in the past decade, 2. state/county pushes to increase minimum wage. This has created many job alternatives and has put so much labor cost pressure on day care centers that it's just really hard to retain qualified staff.

That's not to say the director isn't also problematic.

OP here. 4 of the former teachers all posted negative reviews citing their choice to leave was due to the director. They said she was incapable, rude, and had no idea how to run a daycare. She picked favorites and started hiring friends/family over more qualified applicants. I know daycare workers don't get paid that much but they all cited issues with the director and management as the reasons they were leaving.

Run. There is conflict, and that alone is bad, regardless of who is “right.” Not worth it,

Signed,

Been There

[Anonymous]

Op I have the identical issue. I’m strongly considering a more inconvenient daycare for this reason. I don’t like when daycare workers are not treated well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op I have the identical issue. I’m strongly considering a more inconvenient daycare for this reason. I don’t like when daycare workers are not treated well.

How do you know they were not treated well and just didn’t do their job to the standard they signed up for? Seriously! Why is it always the management on this forum. So tired of the low pay preschool teacher never does wrong mentality. A director doesn’t want to lose a good employee. They also don’t want conflicts with parents like you. Many times it’s the teachers themselves that have the attitude problems and don’t take responsibility for their issues for not doing things to a high standard consistently. Wake up!