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We are in NYS. We are a small center, privately owned- technically a large group daycare as we are in the addition of my home. This past week it has gotten very cold outside and I sent home notices that children needed to come prepared for the day, including winter gear as NYS mandates outside play time every single day. Most of the parents have been compliant, except for a couple who needed to wait until payday (didn't expect it to get so cold so quickly and hadn't planned ahead) or those who flat out couldn't afford it. For those children we have donated items that we received from an outside agency. No big deal.
ONE parent refused to bring the items because she claims she ordered "the special hat from TV with the ears" and it hasn't arrived yet so she isn't buying a second hat in the meantime. I explained that since we have to go outside the child would either need to be picked up at that time or not come at all because the assistant and I both need to be outside to stay in ratio. Miraculously, kid came in all their winter gear yesterday and today.
This morning, however, DCP decided to make a HUGE deal about how cold it was inside the daycare. DCP went on and on about how cold it was and that she "pays enough that we should be able to afford heat..." and "if keeping the kids warm was so important, you'd think we'd have it together inside of our facility." Good point.
Except, it's 72 degrees in here at that time. Well within regs, which really only requires 68 or some similarly low temp. I told DCP that the daycare is an extension of my home and at this time, this early in the year, I don't plan to turn the heat up any higher than 74. At 6:45 AM (the system is automated) it hasn't climbed that high yet because at night we keep it at 67 and we bundle up. Our gas and electric is EXPENSIVE, and I'm heating a 2600 sq. foot home plus the 960 sq. foot addition. It gets costly, and no, daycare is not making enough for it to cover it all. I didn't say all of that, but I was thinking it. DCP ended with, "...and just so you know, I will be calling OCFS on you."
Grrr.... I'm in compliance and I just recertified this past August so I don't really fear the investigation/audit but the inconvenience and the nerve of some people. DCP actually demanded I turn the heat up to 82 because that's what they have it on at home. Who the heck keeps their heat up that high? Seriously. Sorry, DCP. I don't get heating assistance. I pay it all, and until you decide you want to pay a higher copay (because DSS only pays so much) you better believe I'm going to keep the heat exactly where I can afford to, and where it's comfortable for all.
For the record, DCK was wearing layers, a sweatshirt over a long sleeved top. About 20 minutes after arriving DCK was begging to take off the sweatshirt. "Too hot, too hot!"
ONE parent refused to bring the items because she claims she ordered "the special hat from TV with the ears" and it hasn't arrived yet so she isn't buying a second hat in the meantime. I explained that since we have to go outside the child would either need to be picked up at that time or not come at all because the assistant and I both need to be outside to stay in ratio. Miraculously, kid came in all their winter gear yesterday and today.
This morning, however, DCP decided to make a HUGE deal about how cold it was inside the daycare. DCP went on and on about how cold it was and that she "pays enough that we should be able to afford heat..." and "if keeping the kids warm was so important, you'd think we'd have it together inside of our facility." Good point.
Except, it's 72 degrees in here at that time. Well within regs, which really only requires 68 or some similarly low temp. I told DCP that the daycare is an extension of my home and at this time, this early in the year, I don't plan to turn the heat up any higher than 74. At 6:45 AM (the system is automated) it hasn't climbed that high yet because at night we keep it at 67 and we bundle up. Our gas and electric is EXPENSIVE, and I'm heating a 2600 sq. foot home plus the 960 sq. foot addition. It gets costly, and no, daycare is not making enough for it to cover it all. I didn't say all of that, but I was thinking it. DCP ended with, "...and just so you know, I will be calling OCFS on you."
Grrr.... I'm in compliance and I just recertified this past August so I don't really fear the investigation/audit but the inconvenience and the nerve of some people. DCP actually demanded I turn the heat up to 82 because that's what they have it on at home. Who the heck keeps their heat up that high? Seriously. Sorry, DCP. I don't get heating assistance. I pay it all, and until you decide you want to pay a higher copay (because DSS only pays so much) you better believe I'm going to keep the heat exactly where I can afford to, and where it's comfortable for all.
For the record, DCK was wearing layers, a sweatshirt over a long sleeved top. About 20 minutes after arriving DCK was begging to take off the sweatshirt. "Too hot, too hot!"
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