BIG SPRING, TX — Last month, long time child care facility Hillcrest Child Development Center in Big Spring closed their doors after 42 years of service to the community.
When asked what brought about the closure of the program after so many years, Debi Newell, receptionist at Hillcrest Church in Big Spring, said that there where many things, but, mainly, it was due to not being able to keep staff.
“[We] didn’t have much staff, had trouble keeping girls after we’d get them. If there had to be one reason, that would be it. Just could not keep staff, had to turn away kids because you didn’t have the staff to teach them and keep them. There has to be so many teachers per kids. It just got harder and harder to keep it going,” said Newell.
When Hillcrest finally closed their doors to the child development center in May, they said goodbye to 50 kids but had served approximately 90 kids throughout the year with 15 staff members. Families were notified that the facility would be closing on May 26th, and several made arrangements to leave as soon as possible.
When asked what the feedback was from the families about the closure, Brenda Hyatt, with Hillcrest Church, told KBest News that the families were sad.
“You know a lot of these kids, we’ve had siblings that have gone through there. We had some of the families had been with us for 7 to 10 years. In fact, we had second generation kids that were coming. You know, their parents had come through daycare and they wanted their kids to come through daycare. So, of course, it was very sad. We all cried,” said Hyatt.
She went on to say that some of the other child care centers expanded their programs to be able to take in some of the kids after the closure, and most of everyone had some place to go. As for the staff, they transitioned to other childcare centers, some took other jobs, some went back to school, and some decided to stay home with their families.
Although some may have a waiting list at this time, child care facilities still open in Big Spring include West Side Community Day Care, YMCA Kids Academy, Jack and Jill Child Care Center, Little Learners Christian Daycare, and Early Head Start at Bauer. The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club also offers after-school care and a summer program.
West Side Community Day Care
2400 Simler Ave, Big Spring
(432) 263-7841
YMCA Kids Academy
409 S. Goliad, Big Spring
(432) 267-8234
Little Learners Christian Daycare
105 Spring Creek Rd., Sands
(432) 213-4530
Early Head Start at Bauer Head Start School Readiness Academy
108 NW 9th, Big Spring
(432) 267-7452
Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club
811 W. 5th St., Big Spring
(432) 267-8239
Jack and Jill Child Care Center
1708 Nolan, Big Spring
(432) 267-8411
Comments