Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 9, 1991 TAG: 9104090469
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: By MARGARET CAMLIN/ CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Child-Net Inc. has won tentative support from the Lexington School Board for its proposal and is pursuing licensing from the state Department of Social Services.
The day-care program would cost parents about $25 per week, but there also would be a sliding fee scale based on income, according to Child-Net President Melanie Fure.
Child-Net originated from the local chapter of the National Organization for Women and the Rockbridge Area League of Women Voters. Three years ago the groups began studying child-care needs and discovered it would cost too much - about $500,000 - to establish a day-care center.
Since December, Child-Net has worked to establish an after-school program, and received a $7,250 grant from the Gadsden Endowment of R.E. Lee Episcopal Church.
Fure surveyed Waddell parents and found at least 90 children who needed after-school care. A similar survey at Central Elementary showed 53 children in need.
The program at Waddell would serve children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The Lexington School Board has asked that Waddell pupils and those economically "at-risk" get highest priority.
Details on the criteria for enrollment have yet to be hammered out. "We will try our best to incorporate their wishes with our policy, but we'll set our own policy," Fure said.
"We consider any child who is left to his own devices after school at risk," she said. "We want to provide a balanced population within our program."
The School Board would not be the program's sponsor; Child-Net is simply requesting use of the school building.
Fure said there was some nervousness among School Board members about the program. "They want to make sure we're not the mother's bridge club baby-sitting service," she said.
Many after-school programs enroll children of working parents only, and Child-Net may decide to follow suit, Fure said. An estimated 40 percent of the area's working population is female.
"There are some misgivings on the board, but overall, given the right structure, it will be approved," said Chairman Richard Weatherly. "It has potential educational benefit for us."
None of the board members raised any criticisms at last week's meeting with Child-Net, so Weatherly did not want to say what misgivings board members may have.
Fure said Child-Net also might be the sponsoring organization for an after-school program at Fairfield Elementary.
Fairfield PTA Co-President Susan Smyer found that at least 80 children there need after-school care.
The Lexington area has only one licensed day-care center - Yellow Brick Road. Of the many women in Lexington, Rockbridge County and Buena Vista who provide day care in their homes, only three are licensed.
Fure said a 1988 survey found that about 400 children in the area are kept in day care. Of those, 62 were in licensed programs.
by CNB