The district plans to open a daycare center next week.
The Cumberland County Employee Childcare Center at 223 Hull Road will offer child care for the children of county employees starting Monday, said Faith Phillips, county library director and organizer of the center.
She said last week that the initiative was developed in response to a survey of county employees that highlighted child care as a key factor in recruiting, retaining and supporting employees. She said efforts have been underway since 2022 to transform the Dorothy Spainhour Child Development Center, once a facility for children with disabilities, into a modern child care center with capacity for 150 children.
“The benefit to our facility is that it only serves children who are under the care of Cumberland County government employees,” Phillips said. “We really hope to eliminate the waiting lists so people don’t have to wait to get care and they know they have access to quality care.”
Costs for daycare
Phillips said the center will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours in the future, and will accept a variety of payment methods, including Department of Social Services subsidy vouchers, Military Child Care Aware benefits and private payments.
She said the monthly fees for the center vary depending on the age group. For children aged six weeks to 12 months, the cost is $800 per month. For children aged 12 to 24 months, the rate is $700, while for children aged 24 to 36 months and 3 to 4 years, the rate is $600 per month. For children aged 4 to 5 years, the cost is $500 per month.
Phillips said the number of teachers per student, also known as class ratio, will meet North Carolina daycare standards set by the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education.
She said that in addition to full-day care, the center will also offer before- and after-school care for $500 a month. She said transportation services will also eventually be available for the program.
What you should know
Phillips said the center has hired a vendor to oversee the facility’s operations and staffing. Alice Danze, who operates two daycare centers in Wake County and owns Track Out Kidz LLC, will manage the facility.
“I am so excited to serve the community in this way. When I started in 2016, it was a dream to support working families through child care partnerships,” Danze said in an email. “(This) improves employee retention and productivity when they know their children are in a great caring and educational environment.”
Phillips said the county made it very clear in the RFP that the facility would need at least a three-star rating but would aim for a five-star rating.
“As per government requirements, your lead teachers have different levels of education required for each star rating,” Phillips said.
Phillips said the idea for the center was presented to the American Rescue Plan committee and the county Board of Commissioners, which approved $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan funding. The funds were used to equip the facility with new flooring, carpeting, painting, air conditioning, playgrounds, irrigation systems, turf and furniture, as well as upgrades to the kitchen and bathrooms.
She said it was important to add a lactation room to the centre so that breastfeeding mothers can come and breastfeed their children during their lunch breaks. She said a multi-purpose room for therapists has also been set up to ensure children can receive the necessary services on site.
“What I like about this project and what I think shows is Cumberland County’s commitment to its employees and their families,” Phillips said.
Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. Reach her at [email protected]
