The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult to find space at early childcare centers, and for childcare centers like the local, nonprofit PC Tots, it's been hard to find qualified teachers.
PC Tots is in its sixth year of operation. COVID restrictions have put a strain on childcare centers in several ways. At the first of the outbreak, they had to initiate strict hygiene practices, mask-wearing, and reduce class sizes.
PC Tots Director Anka Neacsu said that the nonprofit is struggling to hire enough teachers to keep up with the extended waitlists.
“We were first restricted by childcare licensing because of the COVID, and now we slowly, slowly can go back,” Neacsu said. “But the main thing is to find teachers first so we can bring in more kids. We currently have wait lists for every single age class, so we have around 20 families for infants, 20 families for toddlers, and then ten to 15 families for the older ones up to five years old."
PC Tots one assistant teacher for the toddler class and two full-time “floater” assistants to help cover both the Prospector-area locations. Everyone is expected to pitch in when the roster of teachers is understaffed.
"I was in a classroom, even our executive director was in a classroom,” Neacsu said. “Our business manager came in the classroom to cover lunches. So, it's, it's been really hard, but we always try to do our best, so we can remain open, so we don't have to close, because it's really hard for our families if they need to take a day off."
Neacsu said that since Jan. 1, PC Tots has provided health insurance for full-time employees. They pay $14 to $15 per hour for assistant teachers. Lead teachers start at $16 per hour. While teachers of kindergarten through 12th grade are considered essential workers, it isn't the case with early childcare instructors.
"We are also essential, because we are dealing with the early childhood, like, up to five years old they're with us, and they're with us daily, and I think they should probably reconsider something,” she said. “We are important too.”
Neacsu said there are not enough early childhood centers in the state, making it difficult to provide children with the quality childcare critical to kindergarten preparedness.
"We need around a thousand more childcare facilities to be opened in the state," she said.
Neacsu said she had contacted every family on the waiting lists in each grade level. PC Tots can't begin to help those families until they find teachers. She said the center would begin to work on a strategic plan this year to expand its services further.
To apply for the positions, visit PC Tots' website.
KPCW news reports on issues affecting children aged zero through three years old are brought to you by the Early Childhood fund at the Park City Community Foundation. For more information, visit earlychildhoodalliance.net.
