Lakeshore locking up
6:38 p.m. Tuesday, January 8, 2008
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Problems arise for Topeka families who send their children to Lakeshore Learning Center. The Center's doors are closing and grandparents have something to say.
Lynnette Everett's 4-year-old grandson goes to Lakeshore. She doesn't know who will take care of him now.
Everett said, "Let's get on the wagon, we can handle this, get it done. It's the babies. These are our children. They are not the future, they are right now. I think it's very important. We need to re-evaluate the why, and get that taken care of."
Lakeshore has provided services in East Topeka for more than 25 years, but will close at the end of next month. The decision ultimately comes down to funding.
Lakeshore Executive Director says the state is not giving enough. Roberta Sekavec says the cost of childcare is increasing and the wages are staying the same.
"The legislature has capped the flat rate at $2.20 an hour, and I don't know when the last time anyone in the community could pay any kind of childcare or sitter private or business-wise $2.20 cents an hour to educate and protect the welfare of their children," she said.
Lakeshore gets 20 percent of its money from the United Way. But United Way's Nancy Perry says it's not enough to dig Lakeshore out of debt.
"I think it is what Roberta said, a wake up call all across the country and all across the state. People do not understand. There is no money in childcare providers, they do not make money," Perry said.
Morris James' grandson attends Lakeshore. He wishes there was some way to keep the place going.
"We don't like the idea it's closing. One, it's in the community where we live. I know Lakeshore has been there a long time. There is other kids we know either through the community affiliation, through our church, that is using Lakeshore, so we don't like the fact it's closing. We are sadden by that fact," he said.
Finding affordable daycare is hard for any family, but these families rely on the state help to make ends meet. Without the state and United Way-funded daycare, they may not be able to afford other options. And Lakeshore did one thing that no other daycare in town provided. This was the only childcare facility that stayed opened for a second shift to help the parents who had to work late.
Comments
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Jan. 9, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)Juanita (anonymous)
The problem does not start here it starts with people who can not afford to have children having them. They now have no day care and no money to pay a different daycare. I believe this is so sad, because it's really the children who are going to suffer because their parents did not properly prepare for the birth of children. If you can not afford to have a child then don't. I had a little girl when I was young, but made sure I had a job and was prepared to care for her. I'm sure I'm going to get lot of angry responses to this, but before you snap back please try not to wipe your conscience with me. Just remember that people need to be responsible with their lives and then lives of their children. If you have to draw support to live on, because you could not with out it then maybe you should not be having children. Your kids and you deserve more.
Jan. 9, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)jimmyjames (anonymous)
At least someone said what is wrong with people especially in Topeka. Far to many people have no responsibility for them self's let alone a child.
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