LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WKBW) — Noel Lasage of Lockport loves when her kids are around. But, when it's time for her to go to work, it's time for the kids to go to daycare.
Last Friday, their daycare, Happy Times Preschool and Child Center, closed.
“So, to lose this daycare. It's a big thing to Lockport,” said Lasage.
Lasage got a letter and three week notice of the closure. She gets help from the Department of Social Services to put her kids in daycare and Happy Times was the closest one to her home that accepted her three children.
“We're on every waiting list that's out there. But in Lockport everything is full, including home daycares,” added Lasage.
The closure of Happy Times shows just how difficult it is to keep daycares open. The CEO of the Childcare Resource Network says, heavy regulations means high costs, and it's difficult to ask parents to spend any more than they already do.
“The staff in those child cares are educated. They have their degrees. But yet, we cannot pay them enough to stay,” said Kimberly Suminski. She says more action needs to be taken in Albany and in local city councils to help daycare providers.
“We need to make sure that early childhood education is a top priority,” added Suminski.
As for Lasage, now it's a waiting game to find another option.
