Child care offered to Dare school employees

Citing it as an important resource for teachers with young children as they again teach remotely, the Dare County Schools are offering child care services for employees with children in grades K-8.

Any school employee can take advantage of the program and according to DCS Digital Communications Director Keith Parker, there are currently 67 students enrolled in the program. It operates from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and costs $30 per child per week.

The child care program is being offered at all of the district’s five elementary schools and is currently being staffed by 14 After School Enrichment Program (ASEP) employees. Participating students are assigned to the same building where they attend school.

After re-opening schools full-time to elementary-aged children and implementing a hybrid schedule for middle and high schools in late October, the Dare County Board of Education on Nov. 13 voted to return to remote learning after the district saw roughly 20 positive COVID-19 cases in three weeks. Nearly 100 teachers across the district were quarantined during that time, which ultimately resulted in a teacher shortage.

The district will remain in remote learning through at least the second quarter, which ends on Jan. 15.