CONEJO VALLEY : 2 School Child-Care Programs May Close

Citing financial concerns, Conejo Valley school officials have proposed canceling the district-run child-care program at two elementary schools and reducing services at an additional seven schools.

Conejo Valley Unified School District board members will vote Tuesday on whether to lay off two child-care workers and reduce the hours of nine other workers. Such cuts would result in deletion of the kindergarten program, from 11:40 a.m. to 2:35 p.m., and afternoon program, from 2:35 to 6 p.m., at both Cypress and Weathersfield elementary schools, leaving no child-care programs at those schools.

In addition, the before-school program, from 7 to 8:15 a.m., would be cut at Banyan, Conejo and Wildwood elementary schools and the kindergarten programs at Acacia, Glenwood, Manzanita and University elementary schools would be dropped. The district now offers child care at 17 of its 18 elementary schools.

Children who are currently enrolled in a program fewer than four days a week will need to enroll for a four- or five-day week in order to continue, under the proposed plan.

The school board will vote on the issue at a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Westlake High School, 100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road, in Westlake Village. If approved, the cuts would go into effect on Dec. 27.

The cuts are necessary because the district’s child-care program is facing a $166,000 deficit by the end of the 1991-92 fiscal year, said Assistant Supt. Sarah Hart. In order to be self-supporting, there must be 10 students enrolled in the before-school and kindergarten programs and 20 students enrolled in the after-school programs at each school.

“It’s really an unfortunate situation, because it’s such a good program,” said James A. Silberberger, director of classified personnel for the district. “It’s a reflection of the recession.”

Some parents have taken their children out of the program this fall, while others have switched from full-time to part-time attendance, according to a staff report.

In April, the school board laid off six child-care workers and increased program fees by about 25% in an attempt to reduce the program’s financial problems.