Parents calling for the Menlo Park City School District to provide immediate, on-campus child care services got some bad news this week: Superintendent Ken Ranella said there's no way local schools can provide child care services for at least two years.

Some 40 people -- many of whom have children entering kindergarten this fall -- met with Mr. Ranella and Menlo Park City Council members Kelly Fergusson and John Boyle on Feb. 26, to discuss the shortage of child care options in Menlo Park.

Parents suggested the school district could put portables on campuses to house child care services, but Mr. Ranella said that's not an option as the district embarks on two years of campus renovations.

"We didn't pass a $90 million bond to pull more portables on to our campuses," he said. "The schools aren't going to be able to help you with the immediate problem. ... There's just no way to get child care on our campuses by the fall."

The district's renovation plans don't call for permanent child care facilities on any campuses, but Mr. Ranella said those plans could change, depending on community input.

Council members Kelly Fergusson and John Boyle said they plan on raising at a future council meeting the idea of forming a task force to address the child care shortage.

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