A plan to strengthen day care licensing standards beyond what is mandated by the state is moving forward in this eastern Idaho city.
In a public meeting Wednesday attended by Mayor Jared Fuhriman and City Councilor Karen Cornwell, a a proposal was put together that would require a minimum number of workers to watch over children.
"We have problems in our community without a doubt in regard to day care," Fuhriman said. "I'm not saying it's not safe now, but why take the risk?"
About 15 day care operators attended the meeting and raised their hands to show their approval for the proposed rules, the Post Register reported.
The meeting was described as a brainstorming session.
Idaho Falls officials are using nearby Ammon's day care rules as a model. Those rules include mandatory licensing for anyone paid to take care of at least one child, random checks of day care facilities, and eight hours of training each year for workers.
Some day care providers were concerned smaller businesses could be hurt by the proposed rules.
"We're going to be obliterated by licensing," said Tina Miller, who runs a day care out of her home.
Fuhriman said the city will use the money from increased fees to pay for enforcing any new rules. He said fee increases will be needed to make sure rules are being followed at the city's 150 day care providers, but that he didn't want to increase fees so much that in-home day cares were forced out of business.
Full text available at The Olympian
From Early Childhood Focus
Idaho Falls plans child care licensing after state balked
By Sheila Holland
June 5, 2007
June 5, 2007
© Copyright 2008 by Early Childhood Focus