Wednesday, Sep. 01, 2010

Hospital day-care center will stay open

Parents recruited enough new students

A hospital-owned day-care center will remain open - at least for the next year.

Johnston Health commissioners made that decision on Thursday after parents waged a successful, months-long campaign to enroll new children.

In March, commissioners announced they would close the money-losing day care in September. But then a group of parents began a recruiting effort that eventually boosted enrollment to 82 children, the minimum needed for the day care to break even and win a reprieve.

"It has been a tremendous effort, and we will continue to be engaged," said Lisa Herring, a Smithfield parent who sends her two young children to the day care.

To spread the word about the Early Learning Center, a parent committee raised about $1,800 and created street signs, printed fliers and held open houses and community events, Herring said.

Commissioners had included the day care in a round of cost-cutting designed to help shore up the hospital's shaky finances. The hospital laid off workers, ended some post-retirement insurance benefits for most employees and closed its coffee and sandwich shop in the Johnston Medical Mall. In March, commissioners noted that the day care had run a deficit of more $100,000 in the last fiscal year, spending about $495,000 while taking in only $380,000 in tuition.

In a concession to parents, hospital leaders said they might spare the day care if it could boost enrollment to at least 82 youngsters.

But on Thursday, even as they agreed to keep the day care open, some commissioners expressed doubts about the center's continued success.

"I'm concerned about our ability to manage a day-care center," said Commissioner Sammy Jackson.

But Jackson said he thought it was important for the hospital to sign on for at least one year. "You can't go in February and say, 'Parents, we're out,'" he added.

Commissioner Bobby Parker said he worried some parents would pull their kids out of the program "and leave people in the lurch."

But the new plan for the day care involves more parent involvement, said Tim Hays, vice president of human resources for Johnston Health.

Tuition rates will keep the operation afloat, said Edward Klein, Johnston Health's chief financial officer. "It's going to pay for itself," he said.

Although the center has already reached its enrollment goal, Herring said the parent committee plans to continue recruitment efforts. Parents might create car magnets and hold more open houses, she said.

Paul Worley, a local parent who pushed to keep the day care open, said he was happy that more parents enrolled their kids. "We believe in it and still believe in it," he said. "I think that's something that's here to stay."