I have a question. After working for years in a private school, (closed), I am now working at a center. This center never closes for bad weather. Right now we are having a blizzard with 100's of school closings and we have to go in. Now I know parents have to go to work, but I also notice that there are delayed openings or closings of centers in my area. Just wondering if this is the norm and what your center does.
Yes, it is very normal, at least from my experience. As a past director I would often watch the news to see how many closings there would be and close as a last resort. I would often play it by ear. I once had a couple staff within walking distance who could come in and maintain in those days knowing many children would be gone. It would all depend on staff at that time and how bad the weather really was.
At the agency I used to work for, we were open unless the govenor declared it a state of emergency. I worked with the school-age children and our center was in space we rented in an elementary school. When the schools closed due to snow, the elementary schools would not open for us so we'd either have to find a place to put the kids (local boys and girls club usually) or cancel for the day. If the school-age program was cancelled the staff would either go to one of the early childhood sites or take a vacation day.
i am a Pre-K Teacher at a ChildCare Center and we never close! It has to be a state of Emergency of we must have least 6 or more inches of snow. Its horrible!
I taught at private preschools for years, and we never closed. It was very frustrating. Now I am at a private preschool that has a close association with the school district, and we follow the district. If their school number is called, we are closed. I love it! But, from my experience, that's the exception. Most centers stay open.
I direct a child care center, and my situation is similar to most of yours. We rarely close for bad weather. we are fortunate enough to have employees who live very close to the center. I am the farthest away at 45 minutes...yuck. On those days, I work from home usually, and my supporting staff comes in.
From being in daycare we alwyas had work. In Head Start they never cancel in my part of PA. It all vcomes down to individual agency choice.
