School District Childcare Center Expanding, Spots Open, Earns Profit

The Clarkstown Central School District’s Childcare & Early Learning Program completes its second year of operation in June with big news. The program is profitable; it will expand for September and is opening some slots to children of residents of the Clarkstown School District. The program initially enrolled children of district employees only.  

Director Sandra Wirchansky said the school board approved allowing children of non-district employees who are Clarkstown residents to attend and she expects two or three families to take advantage of the openings.  She said the center has a capacity of 39 full time spots and they are expanding to 44. Most of the 39 children currently enrolled attend full time, just a few are part time.  

“The way we’re doing that is splitting the pre-school room,” she explained. “It won’t be three to five (year olds). It will be a three to four (year old room) and four to five (year old) room.”  

District officials expect the center to earn a profit this year. Assistant Superintendent John LaNave said its gross revenue is approximately $300,000 and the yearly expenses are anticipated to be 10 percent less than that. The profit will go into the general fund and into reserves.  

He noted the center was designed as a service for employees not as a profit center and the focus remains on keeping costs down.  

“Our goal is to provide a superior day care center and if revenues exceed expenses than those revenues go into the surplus for the general fund,” he said.    

The center, which is housed in its own wing of the school district’s Chestnut Grove building, currently has three classrooms. The infant room cares for six-week-old infants to 18 month-old babies. The toddler room is for 18 month olds to three year olds. The pre-school room currently has three to five year olds but will be divided in September.   

“Our infant room is full,” said Wirchansky. “Our toddler room is full. Our pre-school room has room.”  

District officials believe the center stands out for other reasons as well.   "I am proud that Clarkstown Central School District offers this uniquely special place for youngsters of our employees,” said Superintendent Dr. J. Thomas Morton. “We are all enthusiastic about our future prospects to grow enrollment and look forward to the community utilizing this resource as well."      

LaNave pointed out the center’s location differentiates it because everyone who works in the school district building has had their background checked and been fingerprinted. The setting also gives the children a chance to walk through the building and greet people in their offices and enjoy an outdoor play area.  

During a tour of the center, toddlers happily greeted a visitor and were eager to take turns going down a small slide in their indoor play area. Preschool teacher Nicole Higgins showed a cicada to a group of curious preschoolers.  

Since the center caters to school district employees, it is open work from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the 185 days that teachers and closes for the summer. As the enrollment has grown from the initial 12 children at the end of the first year to the current 39, the staff increased from 13 to 16 employees. All the teachers are certified.   

Monthly tuition rates for 2013- 2014 are $940 for infants and toddlers, $925 for preschoolers aged three to four years old and $900 for preschoolers aged four to five years old.