'All these families are now scrambling': Gimli parents concerned about policy changes to child care
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Parents in Gimli who rely on child care before and after school are sounding the alarm over policy changes coming in September.
Parents in Gimli who rely on child care before and after school are sounding the alarm over policy changes coming in September.
At the start of the new school year, Gimli Children’s Centre’s School Age Program will only take 30 students in kindergarten up to Grade 4 – which means those starting grades 5 or 6 in September will no longer be eligible to receive the care they used to.
“All these families are now scrambling, trying to figure out what they’re going to do with their nine, 10, 11-year-old kids that have been in the centre since they were a year old,” said Kevin Peters, a parent of one of the students impacted.
Peters’ son Aron has been enrolled in the centre since September 2014. Since he’ll be 11 years old in June, come September, he’ll no longer be part of the School Age Program.
“I know my wife and I, we’ve lost a lot of sleep trying to figure out what we’re going to do come September,” he said.
In an email sent to parents, the children’s centre’s director said the School Age Program is at max capacity and recommended starting a search for alternative care.
According to Peters, there isn’t any time, or other option.
