Since 2002, USM’s child care has been scrutinized. While they consistently received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, in May 2002 the Classified Staff Senate found both the Portland and Gorham facilities “inadequate.” They are not alone in their concerns. The University has announced that a new child care facility will be the next new building to open on the Gorham campus.
Studies show Gorham needs the space. When asbestos was discovered in 2002 the Gorham child care facility moved from its old home at 39 School St. into two separate temporary spaces. Infants went to a house at 19 College Ave, while the older children (up to kindergarten-age) are in the Hastings Formal Lounge in Upton Hall. Utilizing two spaces not designed for childcare has created some unique problems: “Running water in the classrooms will be lovely” says Allyson Dean, director of USM’s Child and Family Center.
The proposal is still in its preliminary phase and is awaiting approval for both its location and plans. The site for the facility has been narrowed from a pool of nine possible locations down to two: off Husky Drive behind the John Mitchell Center or on the College Avenue tennis courts. While the plans aren’t finalized yet, the facility is supposed to blend into its neighborhood, contain green space for the public, and will feature support solar panels. It should hold four classrooms and be able to accommodate 50 full-time children (or a much larger number of part-time children).
Currently Gorham serves 48 children, and the new building will also house 16 children from the Headstart program. Math majors may notice that this is 64 children, well above the 50 full-time children budgeted. Some children will now be part-time and the program is losing some slots by discontinuing the kindergarten. The loss of the kindergarten program is not related to the new facility. The Gorham school system now offers all-day kindergarten. Portland already offers all-day kindergarten and with both towns offering a public alternative USM Childcare’s kintergarden is now redundant.
The new Gorham facility has raised some serious questions including, why Gorham? Gorham doesn’t advertise its wait list, but the Portland Child and Family Center website states that “we do maintain a lengthy waiting list for the Portland center and encourage interested parents to apply several months before care is actually needed.” According to Dean, the Portland waiting list is now up to 108 children. And, according to the Long Term Strategic Planning Document compiled by U.S.M. Child Care Services’ Advisory Committee’s Long Range Planning Subcommittee submitted June 14, 2002, “expanding services, in the Portland area in particular,” was a priority. Dean, said while Portland is in need of more space, it has a facility designed for child care, Gorham’s two makeshift spaces more urgently needed to be replaced. Portland is hoping for bigger, better space when USM’s new community center gets off the ground.
USM will hold a public meeting regarding the proposal on Tuesday, February 8 at 7 p.m. in Room 104 of Bailey Hall, Gorham.