- By Elisabeth Hegarty
- Opinions
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Dear Editor,
I read with interest the info on the child care deficit for the School District's After School program and the discussion about raising the fees for the after school program to the families who take advantage of it or, ultimately, adding the deficit costs to the tax bills of Lansing residents.
Frankly, I can't understand why taxpayers might wind up paying for this program. As a single parent who had to pay for private child care when my daughter was a youngster, I had to pay the person who provided the care out of my own pocket. If there was an increase in my child care costs, I, the child's parent, had to pay for it. My school district did not pay for the child care. My neighbor did not pay for the child care. Neither the school district nor my neighbors had custody of my child's upbringing or welfare. I did.
Thus, the thought that Lansing taxpayers might be forced to pay for a deficit caused by the failure of the District to impose modestly higher fees to parents utilizing the program that will enable the program to be operated in the black is ridiculous.
I can't think of any working parent who is asked to pay an additional 50 cents to $1.00 a day per for a total of approximately $10 per day per child for after school care is going to quit his/her job and stay home and starve due to the cost. If a parent does not utilize the program and the child is "neglected", there are other county agencies to deal with that problem. The School District cannot police decisions parents make about their childrens' welfare.
While I do not think the District should get "rich" over this program, I do believe that steps should immediately be taken to eliminate the deficit and permit the program to run in the black by modestly raising these after school program costs. Parents should expect that these costs will continue to rise, as do all costs for all goods and services in our society. Parents should be responsible for their children and willingly pay the costs associated with their upbringing. They should not force their neighbors (many of whom have no children or children who are grown) to pay these costs.
From: Elisabeth Hegarty
Ithaca, NY 14850
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