Childcare a concern for students, faculty

An outcry for the establishment of a childcare facility at UW-Green Bay has been around for years, and the voices of many may soon be heard. "I've been on campus for 35 years and I know it's always been a concern," said Cliff Abbott, secretary of the faculty and academic staff, and professor of information and computing sciences. "It was a point of pride when we did have a facility, and it was a loss when we cut it." The campus childcare facility was cut due to budget issues. In a UWGB faculty senate meeting April 8, a resolution was passed recommending the creation of a childcare facility. "The feeling of the senate was that this is directed towards the new administration," Abbott said. "They wanted to go on record that this is a priority." With the arrival of administration, such as the new chancellor, people are hopeful childcare will become a main concern. UWGB is the only university in the UW System that does not have a childcare facility, Abbott said. The support for a child facility can be seen with the faculty senate resolution that was overwhelmingly passed by faculty. According to the resolution, the recent report of the Adult Education Task Force calls for the investigation of the feasibility of alternatives for childcare. Another important realization is the availability of childcare. In the resolution, it stated childcare is an important recruitment, retention and quality of life issue for students, faculty and staff. It also suggests that with the creation of a campus childcare facility, students would have an opportunity to enhance their education through a teaching laboratory. UW-Oshkosh is one of the many UW schools to have a childcare facility and they incorporate volunteer times at the Children's Learning and Care Center. Students in social work, communication, education, human services, music, nursing and psychology can volunteer their time, according to center. Having college students work in the center is a comfort to some parents on campus. "I'd be really comfortable having college students work at the childcare center," said Lynn Rotter, ticketing and information services manager. "You're willing to trust a teenager in the neighborhood, so a qualified college-aged person would be great." Rotter is the mother to a four-month-old daughter, Lily. Shortly before Lily was born, Rotter began the process of finding a day care and looking at the price of different places. "I have a friend who has two children in day care and her bill is pushing $1,200 a month," Rotter said. Danielle Schreiner, a senior Spanish major, is the mother of a 16-month-old boy and has also struggled to find a day care. Schreiner is able to bring her son with her to the day care where she works at night while his father watches him during the day. However, Schreiner said she will soon need to look for day care because of schedule changes. "The hard thing about the day cares we've been looking at is many won't take children his age that aren't full time," Schreiner said. "He only needs to be in daycare fifteen hours a week, and it's been hard to find a place." There is a large number of students, faculty and staff who have children and the idea of convenience has become extremely important. "It would definitely be helpful if there was a day care at school," Schreiner said. Rotter was also excited about the prospect of having a day care on campus. "It would be really convenient to have something out here," Rotter said. "The nearest day care I know of is off East Mason Street, and it would be nice to have something right here."