Lubbock ISD re-opening two schools as day care for children of health care workers
The Lubbock Independent School District is in pursuit of opening Miller Elementary on Monday to serve as a day care for UMC Health System’s workers.
Health care workers are on the front-line of battling the coronavirus, and with children not in school, they’ll have the option of free day care.
LISD’s Board of Trustees met in a special-called teleconference meeting on Thursday to approve a memorandum of understanding with UMC to provide childcare services free to the hospitals healthcare workers.
On Monday, the day Miller Elementary is expected to open in its new role, board members will meet in another special-called meeting to approve a memorandum of understanding with Covenant Health. The hope, according to the district, is to open Ramirez Elementary on Wednesday as a day care for Covenant’s employees.
“We have a lot of staff with children at home, who’d normally be in school,” said Eric Finley, marketing director for UMC. “We have needs for a place to keep those children during the day so they can continue to work. We’ve been working with LISD and they’ve been gracious enough to partner with us.”
Finley said Miller will house about 170 children, and Lubbock ISD says Ramirez will house about 150 children.
Lubbock ISD will serve as a day care for children ages four to 13-years-old. The day cares will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every weekday.
Kathy Rollo, superintendent of Lubbock ISD, said Miller Elementary will open as a day care on Monday. Because the governor ordered schools to close, they’ve asked for the governor’s support to be announced publicly, however they intend to move forward regardless because of the need.
Lubbock ISD said rules and precautions will be followed to secure safety.
Temperatures of kids and faculty will be taken every day before entry to the building. The limit will be eight kids per classroom, plus two adults. Kids will be served breakfast and lunch.
There will also be a deep-clean at the schools every evening.
The day cares will be staffed by Lubbock ISD paraprofessionals. Jeff Klotzman, director of communications at LISD, says they asked their paraprofessionals who would be willing to work, and got an overwhelming response. Klotzman said more than 250 Lubbock ISD workers signed up to work.
Workers will be in two shifts: one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Lubbock ISD says the paraprofessionals will be paid by UMC.
“We’re going to follow the mayor’s call for no more than 10 people in any one particular place, and we’ll social distance,” Klotzman said. “Every child will have his or her temperature taken before they even get out of the car. Nobody else will be allowed in those schools except the people providing child care and the administrators.”
The topic was discussed at-length during a special called board of trustees meeting.
Rollo said Miller was chosen because it’s a two-story facility, so students can spread out. Miller is also near a park and it’s a relatively new facility, so Rollo said it’s easier to clean.
According to LISD, parents will be need to sign a waiver that clears the school district and UMC from liability regarding the coronavirus.
The services will be overseen by Kevin Booe, principal at Miller Elementary School, and Melissa Hernandez, principal at Ramirez Elementary School.
LISD also says day cares across the city are taking on more children of health care workers ages younger than four-years-old.