By The Scene staff
It’s been nearly 12 years since the St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees made the controversial decision to close the Forest Park child-care center to cut costs.
Now the college is making plans to create a new center, thanks to a $4 million grant from the state of Missouri, using funds it received from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, better known as the CARES Act.
“This will open up the door of opportunity to many who would like to enroll in classes, but who have not had accessible child care,” Forest Park President Julie Fickas stated in an STLCC news release.
“With so many programs aligned with our community’s workforce needs, this is not only a win for our students, but for our overall community.”
The college plans to convert 15,000 square feet of space in the Physical Education Building into a child-care center. Renovations will eliminate the practice gym and offices and relocate the fitness center and weight room, according to STLCC spokeswoman Nez Savala. Part of a softball field will be converted into a playground.
The child-care center will serve up to 60 children at any one time, primarily those of Forest Park students, Savala said. It’s expected to open in 12 to 18 months.
Staff will include students majoring in early childhood education, allowing them to get hands-on experience. Programs and services will be modeled after those offered at the Child Development Laboratory Center on STLCC’s Florissant Valley campus.
“We are grateful for receiving these funds that will help our students with children to enroll and complete a degree or a certificate that will prepare them for living-wage jobs or the chance to earn advanced degrees,” STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman stated in the news release.
The former Forest Park Children’s Center opened in 1995 so students, faculty and staff would have a place to leave their children while attending classes or working. Services were cheaper than those at private facilities.
Many people were caught off guard on Nov. 19, 2009, when the STLCC board voted to follow an administrative recommendation and close child-care centers on the Forest Park and Meramec campuses, even though it wasn’t on the meeting agenda.
“In reviewing the overall operations of the college, and with more and more individuals seeking our services, we must put dollars toward initiatives that improve the learning outcomes and academic achievement of all our students, as well as those that address evolving workforce needs,” Trustee Joan Ordinachev explained at the time.
The college was reportedly spending $600,000 a year subsidizing the Forest Park and Meramec child-care centers, including $53,400 to rent an off-campus building near Forest Park. They were serving the children of 209 students, faculty and staff in 2009.
The Forest Park center closed on June 30, 2010. Housekeeping employees threw away dumpsters full of games, toys, books and other items. The STLCC board decision was publicly criticized by center managers and parents whose children were enrolled.
“The center is the only reason why I was able to change my personal situation and start school and complete my dream of becoming a lawyer,” said former student Daniella Yussupbek. “Personally, I consider this discrimination against single parents and low-income families.
“Students were crying after hearing the speeches of each other’s personal stories of how their life goals and dreams will have to change as a result of closing the center.”
Fast forward to 2021. The $4 million is being granted to STLCC through the CARES Act Child Care Plan, which is part of Gov. Mike Parson’s initiative to fund improvements in the quality and availability of child care and early education programs.
Specifically, funds are earmarked to help establish or expand on-campus child-care centers to support and strengthen access to safe child care for 20 or more children ages 6 weeks to 5 years from low-income families receiving child-care subsidies while parents work or pursue education or training, the news release stated.