Child care programs for infants and toddlers could end

Feb. 20--Conejo Valley school officials may eliminate two child care programs that serve infants and toddlers.

The programs, which operate through Neighborhood for Learning, cost significantly more than they bring in, officials said. Next year's deficit is expected to be $100,000. The Conejo Valley Unified School District has been subsidizing those programs with child care funds, officials said.

Trustees will discuss the proposal Tuesday, but they will not vote on it.

Neighborhoods for Learning operates preschools across the county and also offers parent education and medical services. The programs that could be cut operate out of City Center in Thousand Oaks. The proposal does not include the center's preschool program, which serves children from 2 1/2 to 5 years old. Parent and child classes also are not included.

If the district cuts the infant and toddler programs, it would have enough money to expand child care programs at its elementary schools, Trustee Betsy Connolly said.

The board also will consider raising fees for the Neighborhood for Learning's preschools in the Conejo Valley. A study showed that those fees, which have not been raised since 2002, are lower than fees for comparable programs. Under the proposal, fees would go up 10 percent. So the cost for a child attending the preschool full time five days a week would go from $925 to $1,010 a month.

Trustees will meet in open session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the board room at district headquarters, 1400 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

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