Working parents to experience child care 'crisis' with virtual school

Aug. 9--As schools consider options for the fall, Charlenne Gamez has few.

The single mother makes just enough in her job as a personal care assistant to afford rent and groceries. She works while her 6-year-old son attends Scranton'sCharles Sumner Elementary.

"When he's at school, I get to provide for him," she said. "I don't want to be homeless with my son."

Most Lackawanna County schools plan either hybrid or virtual starts to the year. Even with most hybrid models, students will only be in school two days a week and must participate in virtual learning the other three school days. The Scranton School Board plans to vote Monday to accept a virtual plan.

For working parents like Gamez, the situation presents a stressful challenge: who will take care of her son, David?

Local social service agencies and child care providers have heard from hundreds of parents, many employed in jobs in which working from home isn't feasible. Parents say the sudden expense of childcare may be a burden they can't afford.

"This is a crisis like no other," said Gary Drapek, executive director of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne counties. "None of us have been down this road before."

School leaders say they understand how any plan that is not a full reopening will cause added stress on families. However, superintendents and school board members say they must make decisions that put the safety of students, staff and families first.

"We're looking at the situation, but it's so massive right now," Drapek said. "I wish I had an answer. Parents usually drop their kids off at school then go to work."

Some child care centers have reduced capacity because of the pandemic and social distancing requirements. Others have created new programs for school-age students to help meet the demand.

After the Greater Scranton YMCA announced a childcare program this week, 72 families signed up within the first 24 hours, said Trish Fisher, president and CEO.

YMCA staff will assist students with virtual learning and lead them in other activities. To accommodate six feet of recommended social distancing, the center expects to accommodate about 200 children, Fisher said.

Weekly tuition ranges from $93 to $185, depending on the number of days and whether before- and after-program care is needed.

"We're trying to meet the need," Fisher said. "We're glad we can pull it together. It's definitely a challenging time for these parents."

Some groups that don't typically offer academic programs, including Riverfront Sports and the Creative and Performing Arts Academy of NEPA, will offer options for children to complete cyber or virtual studies and then engage in other activities. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania also expects to offer a program for school-age children.

"We are certainly concerned about the families we serve," said Tricia DiBiasi Thomas, executive director. "We are hoping to be a resource once school starts."

Over the summer, the club limited capacity to 50 children and instituted many health and safety protocols. Social distancing will continue this fall, she said.

United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania has capacity in its childcare centers and hopes to support families, said Lisa Durkin, president and CEO.

"Everyone certainly has safety first on the mind, but there is no easy solution," she said. "We all have to do our part. I just don't know what the answer is."

Gamez knows a full return to school wouldn't be the right answer either.

"I'm absolutely sick to my stomach about it," she said. "I'll have to look for food pantries. It's just crazy."

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter.

___

(c)2020 The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)

Visit The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.) at thetimes-tribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.