RE: New Operating Hours Starting Wednesday, 3/18/2020

Dear SLCC Staff,

In order to make adjustments in our organization to minimize the risks associated with the spread of Coronavirus, we have decided that the best course of action at this time will be to reduce our operating hours, beginning Wednesday, 3/18/2020, to 8 am to 5 pm. These are the hours we will be open for parents to have their children in care, though staff can possibly work beyond these hours doing cleaning, cooking, etc. This change will be communicated ASAP to all parents via email, text, and our blog page. You may receive questions from parents about this new policy, so please be sure to understand the reasoning for this decision and remind parents that this will start Wednesday, 3/18/2020.

Here are the 5 main reasons we have made this decision:

1. It allows us to implement a “one adult/teacher exposed to each classroom” policy. In this new schedule, a teacher will be singularly responsible for their classroom for the entire 9 hour period, having only a half-hour lunch break (if desired).This will greatly decrease the potential for COVID-19 transmission.
2. Reducing overall hours frees up extra time to spend cleaning and disinfecting our facilities.
3. It allows children to be here during warmer parts of the day. This means we can be outside for the vast majority of their hours in the center. Please note that spending time outside is a critical strategy in mitigating the spread of this disease. Please remind parents that their children need to bring 3 layers each day (shirt, sweatshirt, jacket).
4. The lower total staff hours means that staff who are concerned about contracting the virus will have the freedom to stop working sooner.
5. This model of social distancing may possibly enable us to stay open longer.

As we have previously mentioned, it is possible that any day, the state may require child care centers to close. In addition, we are still monitoring the safety issues and may choose to shut down the centers independently. 

The bottom line is that, starting Wednesday, every lead classroom teacher’s schedule will change to 8-5. We are looking for group-lead teachers who are willing to commit to holding down classrooms in this new schedule. For younger, healthy staff, this is a great way for you to serve at this time, because your personal health risks are relatively limited.

The above steps will further reduce/mitigate risks. However, you must be sure to continue to send home children exhibiting symptoms (and not allow them to be dropped off into care). Additionally, do not come to work if you yourself are exhibiting any symptoms.

Dear SLC & SLCC Staff,

The CV outbreak is changing moment by moment. We want to keep in close communication with all staff during this time. This may require multiple communications, even in one day. Here’s what we know up to this moment:

• Many Colorado school districts, including all Colorado Springs school districts that we serve, will close beginning Monday, March 16, 2020.  CV has shown itself to be containable whenever governments/communities practice strong social distancing. Apparently, our nation is entering a stage in which we recognize the seriousness of this virus, and the wisdom in shutting it down quickly.  SLCC/SLC will spend the next few days assessing the fast changing situation, and will communicate new decisions and policies on a regular basis. 
• Staff communication will be through 3 channels: our SLCC Staff Portal, at the following link: http://childcare.springsoflife.org/staff-blog, text message summaries, and email text that contains all information in the ‘blog’ post. What this means is that whenever the website is updated, you will also receive a text summary and an email containing the full text of the update.  Please reach out to us and let us know if you are not receiving any of these communications, so we can ensure our systems are working properly, and that we have your current contact information. Feel free to call HR (719-453-0202), if you want to talk with someone regarding our policies. Also, stay in touch with your Director/Supervisor regarding your daily work schedule.  Pastor Dan and Cheri would love to talk with you directly and are available if you have any concerns. Dan’s cell number is 719-761-3338, and his email is dfinnegan@springsoflife.org. Cheri’s cell is 719-761-3358, and her email is cfinnegan@springsoflife.org. 
• Although many elementary school districts have closed, to this point we are not aware of any children’s centers that have closed. This is likely to change within the next couple of weeks.  It is possible that the State of Colorado or Colorado DHS would mandate children’s center closures at some point. If this happens, of course we will comply and notify you immediately. 
• At 11 am this morning, we were involved in a conference call, directly with the Colorado Public Health Department. They communicated, in strong terms, that they do not suggest child care centers closing, in line with the public schools. They emphasized that there are currently 0 active cases in El Paso county (the one case that was here has since resolved, and no new cases have arisen). Based on this, at this point, SLCC is planning to be open next week, 3/16 – 3/20. Please note: due to school closures, next week’s schedule will be modified to accommodate these kids being out of school (break schedule).
• It has been difficult for us to find relevant counsel on whether/when to consider closing.  The policies stated hereafter may change at any moment. Nevertheless, we feel the need to communicate where we currently stand.
• There are 4 principles which will guide our decisions:

1. 1. Personal safety of children and staff
   2. State laws and/or recommendations
   3. Economic hardship on childcare families, as we serve a primarily low-income population, and missing work can be as serious as the virus itself.
   4. Economic hardship on our staff who may want to work as much as possible in this season.

• Until further notice, it will be SLCC’s policy to stay open as long as, a) we are not State mandated to close, and, b) it does not unduly risk the health of our precious children, their families or our staff.
• As previously stated and discussed in our “All Staff CV Meeting” (March 5, 2020), the virus is increasingly understood to have an extremely high risk for the elderly, or those with pre-existing conditions. However, younger, healthy individuals have extremely low risk of serious illness/death as a result of becoming infected. For this reason, many of our young staff have communicated their desire to continue working, even as the virus progresses. Likewise, many of our families are indicating they will continue to bring their children for as long as possible, so their work-life is not negatively affected.
• Please remember the unique situation that child care centers face with staffing requirements. If we don’t have qualified staff committed to working, we will need to send children home/ close classrooms. For this reason, it is important that staff think through, and communicate with their directors, their desire to work, on a week-by-week basis. Your director will provide you with a questionnaire that will evaluate your needs and desire to work during this time.
• We consider ourselves very blessed that there are no current CV cases in El Paso County. However, personal hygiene, cleaning, and “social distancing” are still the only ways to mitigate the effects of this virus. Everyone needs to take this situation very seriously, and respond by taking their cleaning and sanitization practices to a whole new level – you cannot over-clean and sanitize your classrooms during this time. 
• Please remember that outside of cleaning and sanitization practices, the primary thing we can do to minimize the spread of this disease is to ensure no children or staff are present in our center who could potentially be infected. Anyone who is displaying the symptoms of CV needs to be sent home and tested immediately. SLCC will cover the costs of time missed for work while awaiting test results. Do not come to work if you have any symptoms. Stay home and call the doctor and follow their instructions on what to do.
• Although CV does not pose a substantial health risk to most of our staff and children, this does not mean that keeping our center open and continuing to provide child care services is beneficial for the overall good of our community. Continuing to have many staff and children gathering together, day after day, will increase the likelihood of this disease being transmitted to more people. Ultimately, the people most at risk from this disease are the elderly, and the more infections that occur in our community, the higher the risk of death for those most at risk. The message we are hearing from affected communities across the world is do whatever it takes now to stop the spread of this disease. The recommended measures are closing schools, cancelling public events, and minimizing contact of people, regardless of the social and economic costs.
• Based on these concepts, please prepare yourself personally, economically, and spiritually for a 2-4 week break. It is likely we will be forced to close, or will decide to close our centers in the next few weeks in response to this outbreak. 

Thank you and may God bless and protect each one of you.