Child care centers oppose tougher city rules

Judy Odierna

Thursday, March 27, 2003 | 11:02 a.m.

Child care professionals say it's "bad timing" for Las Vegas to push new rules that would force them to raise rates for parents.

The most significant proposed change is the reduction of the staff-to-children ratio from one teacher for every 13 children 2 years old and older to one teacher to eight children. The change would mean centers would have to add staff members and increase rates to support the new employees.

"It would drive costs dramatically upward at a time when the economy is poor," said Carol Hall, president of Creative Kids Inc., which runs 11 Creative Kids Learning Centers throughout the city and county.

"There's not a doubt in anyone's mind that if we reduce the ratio, then we'll have to charge more. Not just a couple of dollars but dramatically more."

City staff members have had three public hearings with industry representatives to get feedback on possible changes before they present them to elected officials.

"We're really in the preliminary stages," said Jim Difiore, manager of the city's Finance and Business Services Department, who said the possible changes would be reviewed over the next 60 days, then presented again to industry representatives.

County officials say they, too, are working on changes but do not expect to hold public hearings until this summer. Currently the county's ratios are one provider for the first six children 2 years old and older. For seven to 20 children, a facility needs two providers. At 21 to 35 children, a third provider is added.

Those guidelines are set by the state and are followed by North Las Vegas as well.

"Ratio is a major issue, and it's very much a safety issue with children," Suzanne Magleby, child care licensing supervisor for the county, said. "We're currently trying to do a cost study on the impact to the centers based on information they provide us."

Bobby Gordon, social service manager for Clark County, said getting the numbers from the centers hasn't been easy.

"They say it's going to cost a lot, but what's a lot of money?" she said. "So far, we've talked to some providers, but no one says how much exactly it will cost."

In addition to the ratio changes, child care professionals are concerned about a provision requiring more than one director for every 100 students the center is licensed for and another provision that would require limiting outdoor play for children once temperatures reached 100 degrees.

Also under question is a provision that would require an additional adult in a van transporting more than six children. Currently the regulations require only one adult.

"These provisions are more stringent than what currently exists and from what the state currently has," Difiore said. "We've done some research in standards and guidelines regionally as well as some applied on a national basis."

The city also is proposing changes in the fees, which currently range from $80 to $250 annually, based on the licensed number of children. Child care professionals do not have a problem with that, Hall said.

Jennifer Holt, regional director for the Children's Oasis -- which operates centers in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and unincorporated areas of Clark County -- said she wants to see more ideas on paper and hopes the city will continue to work with the industry.

"The city is wonderful and usually very receptive to anything you need," she said. "I feel they will be with this too."