It’s a debate without a resolution.
After two months of discussion, the Board of Directors of the University of Calgary Child Care Centre and many student parents still do not see eye-to-eye on the matter of a fee increase.
"It was a decision out of a board meeting in January," said UCCC Board Chair Katherine Sheehan. "It’s not by any means a last-minute decision."
Many parents disagree, noting they were first informed of the fee increase in late February when the fee was set to take effect March 1. The Board agreed to delay the increase until May 1 to allow parents more time to decide their children’s future caretaking arrangements. Although the UCCC held a townhall meeting to discuss the fees with parents, the fee is still going ahead.
"They answered our questions with a bit of rhetoric," said Richard Hannah, a student/parent with children in the day care. "The only thing they were firm about is that they were going to raise fees."
Many are concerned the cost is out of the reach of students.
"What student can pay $950 [per month]?" said Hannah. "They have allowed the student day care to be mismanaged to the point where it is no longer a student service."
Although the daycare provides high quality service, some question whether it meets student needs.
"They notice that the staff are well-paid, the facilities are top-notch, but do students want it to be elite or do they want it to be functional?" said Students’ Union Vice-President External Oliver Bladek.
According to Sheehan, the day care needs improved relations with the U of C if it is expected to provide affordable child care for students.
"Our connection with the U of C has been mainly through the board representatives," said Sheehan. "The time has come for the university to look at how they might more effectively maximize having a day care."
Although a student levy passed by referendum did provide capital for the expansion of the centre, the question didn’t actually promise the day care would be for student use and students do not contribute to operation costs of the facility.
"We’ve invited the President [of the university] to come and tour the day care and meet with some of us from the board," said Sheehan. "We’re looking for some kind of long-term relationship that would be beneficial to the day care and the university."
Regardless, Hannah and his wife have already found another day care for their 13-month old son although their older boy will finish the year at the UCCC.
"Because he’s already two-thirds of the way through the school year, it’s not fair to him to yank him out," said Hannah.