CapMetro daycare center to stay open for another year, previously at risk of closure

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Parents using CapMetro’s child care center are breathing a sigh of relief.

The CapMetro’s Board of Directors considered closing the center, but instead voted to extend the daycare program for another year.

It’s a temporary fix while they figure out a more permanent solution that addresses the cost of running it.

CapMetro is considering other options like childcare assistance stipends for employees and discounted rates for CapMetro families at alternative childcare providers.

The resolution directed staff to research different options and report back to the board in July with their findings.

Background of child center

CapMetro said it first opened the Capital Metro Child Care & Early Learning Center in 2006 to support its staff and their families.

It was income-based tuition subsidized by CapMetro. They contracted with Bright Horizons to operate the center since it opened.

According to the organization, it opened up the center to the community at large in 2012 to help offset increasing costs to keep the center open.

Since then, employee enrollment has gone down and the cost to keep the center running has gone up.

CapMetro families using the center:

• December 2018: 13

• December 2019: 6

• December 2020: 10

• December 2021: 8

• December 2022: 7

• December 2023: 6

• January 2024: 8

Community families using the center:

• December 2018: 51

• December 2019: 47

• December 2020: 44

• December 2021: 48

• December 2022: 42

• December 2023: 43

• January 2024: 44

On Monday, board member Dianne Bangle said the few families enrolled are costing thousands of dollars.

“Authorizing a contract that provides almost $85,000 in subsidy for each of the eight families,” Bangle. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

Board member Chito Vela said the center’s hours of operations could be contributing to the low enrollment numbers.

“It’s really not a good match, especially for the really tough bus operator, bus driver hours,” Vela said. “My concern is that it doesn’t serve our blue collar employees very well. That’s who needs the most help.”

Ultimately, a majority of the board agreed it was important to extend the contract so it could allow for more time to consider other childcare options for employees.

‘These are my families’

Before the vote, families packed the board room and expressed their outrage.

“East Austin is a childcare desert,” said parent Christina Ly.

One parent emotionally told the board that many of the teachers have been caring for their kids since 2006.

A teacher at the daycare was among those who spoke out against the potential closure.

While the long-term future of the center is unknown, parents like Ian Dorish are grateful his daughter will have more time there.

“Every single day you go in there, there’s such smiles on everybody’s face,” Dorish said. “The actual progress of my daughter as a toddler has been very impressive.”

Not enough supply

This discussion comes at a time when there aren’t enough childcare centers available for families.

“We struggled looking for daycare,” Dorish said. “We had no idea how long the waitlists and the problems were.”

Senior Research Fellow at Urban Institute Diane Schilder said she found that both nationally and in Austin, the demand far outpaces the supply of available care.

“Potentially about 56,000 young children in need of childcare,” Schilder said. “The number of licensed slots is woefully insufficient to meet that demand.”

Schilder said not only are there waitlists, but the cost of childcare is a barrier as well.

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