SKANEATELES — Staff shortages, reduced operating hours, added costs for personal protective equipment, and limiting exposure are just some of the challenges that Skaneateles Early Childhood Center (SECC) and many other daycares faced during the pandemic. When they were forced to shorten their hours of operation last fall due to a staffing crisis, the entire community was affected.
“There were numerous exposures causing staff and students into mandatory quarantine, we were contending with meeting new OCFS regulations weekly that required a great deal of our staff’s time, and front-door drop off meant teacher/parent interaction was limited to phone, email, or our mobile application,” Director Eric Slywiak said. “None of it aligned with our ideal approach, but we all pulled together and forged through, and I couldn’t be happier with where we are today.”
The unprecedented difficulties that SECC and other daycares faced throughout the worst of the pandemic had a cascade effect throughout communities, especially when parents were expected to return to the office. Add on exposures that required children (and therefore parents) to quarantine, and the result was an intensely stressful situation for the parents and childcare providers.
Slywiak expressed his gratitude for parents during this time.
“We have the best families here at SECC. Parents were extremely understanding throughout these difficult times,” Slywiak said. “We are so grateful to have such a caring community of parents, kids, and staff.”
Parents are equally grateful for the lengths that SECC went through to stay in operation during these difficult times.
“SECC provides an essential service in this community. If they can’t work, we can’t work,” Kristin Sheehan, a parent at the center, said. “The COVID-related challenges could have taken down lesser centers. It’s a testament to the leadership, staff, and board that SECC was able to sustain the worst and then return to the thriving Center it was pre-pandemic.”
Currently, SECC’s operating hours are 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. with the plan to extend the closing time to 5:30 p.m. this fall. Positive cases and exposures have been scarce with minimal classroom closings and disruption.
“To walk into the center today, it’s like it was all a bad dream,” Board President Sue Jones said. “You can see everyone’s smiling faces again, parents are back in the building connecting with teachers at pick up and drop off, and we have an incredibly strong and enthusiastic staff. It’s really a great feeling.”
SECC’s 2021-22 annual fund is still underway.
To support the organization’s work with a tax-deductible gift online visit skaneatelesearlychildhood.org or mail donations to 1574 Cherry Valley Turnpike, Skaneateles, NY 13152.
The center’s can and bottle drive is ongoing with a receptacle available near the center parking lot 24 hours a day.
For more information contact Eric Slywiak at 315 685 8248 or Sue Jones at 315 569 8424.
