Parents were given 17 days notice that Way to Grow Early Learning Center in Everett would shutdown, leaving dozens of families scrambling to get on months-long waitlists.Instant panic. That’s how August McKenna described the message he got from his child’s daycare.
McKenna said he’s one of the lucky parents. Both he and his wife Mary’s work have indicated they’ll support them as they try to make a plan. They’re quick to point out, others aren’t as lucky. Steele is one of 14 employees who will lose their job when the business closes. A handful of people will likely stay on to earn a paycheck while the business holds a liquidation sale. Then, like the parents, they are out of work. Steele, and others, will also be looking for a childcare services as a number of employees have children that relied on Where We Grow, as well.The term "childcare crisis," was used often as the pandemic shrank access to services around the United States.
At the time, the Snohomish County Executive noted that access to quality childcare is critical to the county’s economic recovery mission. "I know there’s many, many rules about evictions regarding landlords for tenants living in a property," said McKenna. "I think it’d be reasonable to say when, or how you closer services like this. I doubt this particular issue cropped up this month. It could have been forecasted."
Can we get some reporting on the high burden of opening and running a childcare facility in this state? Are there things the government is demanding that are limiting the amount of care facilities?