2008 Woodie Awards
UI plan worries some
Kurt Hiatt - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 11/13/06 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
Recommendations from a task force assembled to improve childcare options for UI employees and students has private, university-affiliated daycares - those affected by the potential changes - concerned.
"We've been around and serve the university very well," said Martine Dunnwald, the chairwoman of Alice's Rainbow Child Care Centers. "Why do you want to kick us out?"
Three weeks after a UI task force released recommendations on how to revamp childcare options on campus, such private providers are voicing their concerns - particularly about a possible bid system that could lead to another company running the daycare.
Joan Troester, a UI human-resource specialist and task-force chairwoman, said one suggestion is for the UI to look into a competitive selection process.
"There will be criteria associated with the competitive selection process," she said, adding that private daycares have been informed of the standards.
But nothing has been implemented yet, and relationships between the UI and its private daycares hasn't changed, Troester added.
Regardless, some providers are still fearful.
"It's upsetting," Dunnwald said. "We're definitely worried about it."
Three private daycares that serve children of UI students, faculty, and staff are affected by the recommendations: Brookland Woods, Alice's Rainbow, and University Parents Care Collective.
Any recommendations or a potential bid system will not be enacted until the expiration of the current contracts between the UI and its three affiliated daycares, slated for about six months from today, Troester said.
She doesn't know of other concerns from the private daycares about the task force's recommendations, she said.
But all three have a "grave concern" about the proposals, said Mary Larson, director of Alice's Rainbow.
Any recommendations by the task force won't be enacted anytime soon. The committee is still awaiting feedback from UI interim President Gary Fethke, Provost Michael Hogan, and Doug True, the UI vice president for Finance. The task force's proposals have not changed since private daycares voiced their concerns, Troester said.
The UI also provides childcare services through University Preschool, UIHC Child Care, and Home Ties, according to a UI childcare website. These are not affected by the task force's recommendations.
Representatives of the private daycares met last week with members of WorkLife - an organizational effectiveness department within UI Human Resources - who are also members of the task force. They will meet again, at some point between Thanksgiving and winter breaks, officials said.
"I think the main point is that these are recommendations that have been put forth for consideration," Troester said.
E-mail DI reporter Kurt Hiatt at:
kurtis-hiatt@uiowa.edu
"We've been around and serve the university very well," said Martine Dunnwald, the chairwoman of Alice's Rainbow Child Care Centers. "Why do you want to kick us out?"
Three weeks after a UI task force released recommendations on how to revamp childcare options on campus, such private providers are voicing their concerns - particularly about a possible bid system that could lead to another company running the daycare.
Joan Troester, a UI human-resource specialist and task-force chairwoman, said one suggestion is for the UI to look into a competitive selection process.
"There will be criteria associated with the competitive selection process," she said, adding that private daycares have been informed of the standards.
But nothing has been implemented yet, and relationships between the UI and its private daycares hasn't changed, Troester added.
Regardless, some providers are still fearful.
"It's upsetting," Dunnwald said. "We're definitely worried about it."
Three private daycares that serve children of UI students, faculty, and staff are affected by the recommendations: Brookland Woods, Alice's Rainbow, and University Parents Care Collective.
Any recommendations or a potential bid system will not be enacted until the expiration of the current contracts between the UI and its three affiliated daycares, slated for about six months from today, Troester said.
She doesn't know of other concerns from the private daycares about the task force's recommendations, she said.
But all three have a "grave concern" about the proposals, said Mary Larson, director of Alice's Rainbow.
Any recommendations by the task force won't be enacted anytime soon. The committee is still awaiting feedback from UI interim President Gary Fethke, Provost Michael Hogan, and Doug True, the UI vice president for Finance. The task force's proposals have not changed since private daycares voiced their concerns, Troester said.
The UI also provides childcare services through University Preschool, UIHC Child Care, and Home Ties, according to a UI childcare website. These are not affected by the task force's recommendations.
Representatives of the private daycares met last week with members of WorkLife - an organizational effectiveness department within UI Human Resources - who are also members of the task force. They will meet again, at some point between Thanksgiving and winter breaks, officials said.
"I think the main point is that these are recommendations that have been put forth for consideration," Troester said.
E-mail DI reporter Kurt Hiatt at:
kurtis-hiatt@uiowa.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Andrew Benjamin
posted 11/13/06 @ 11:54 AM CST
What are these "recommendations?" How can we, as the reader, construct a meaningul opinion about these events without the critical elements being reported?
JW Haga
posted 11/13/06 @ 1:06 PM CST
Hhhhhmmmmm....me thinks perhaps a royal disappointment is brewiing for the current daycare providers.
Whenever the UI takes it upon itself to want "better" care remember they're the ones defining that "better". (Continued…)
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