Ty Durekas recently had some striking news for the city of Menlo Park. He said his company, Sunnyvale-based Children’s Creative Learning Centers, could take over the city-run child care programs at no cost to the city and without raising fees. That could save the city $444,000 a year, staff estimates.
Based on this news, the City Council decided April 19 to seek competitive bids from companies and nonprofits to take over operation of the preschool and after-school programs that will move into the city’s new Menlo Children’s Center next week.
But on Friday, Mr. Durekas announced he would not be among those submitting bids, citing the situation as “too contentious.”
During the council’s three recent meetings devoted to eliminating the city’s projected $2.9 million shortfall, supporters and opponents of privatizing the city’s child care services have been outspoken. Opponents include the union representing the 20 city employees who now provide the services, and some of the parents who use the service.
“Some residents will support this, and others wouldn’t — it’s a very contentious situation,” Mr. Durekas said. “There are a lot of people who don’t want the program to change hands, so to me, it’s a lose-lose situation.”
Mr. Durekas, whose company has operated after-school and preschool programs at Atherton’s Las Lomitas School for about eight years, said that although his company will not apply to operate the programs, he will discuss with the city how he thinks its child care services could run more efficiently and avoid rate increases.
“In a way, I opened this can of worms, and I want to help the city in every way I can,” he said. “I just don’t want [my company] to get in between this group of residents and a program they obviously don’t want to change.”
The two programs considered for privatization are the children’s center program for preschoolers and Burgess school-age after-school program. Both programs are slated to move into the new $3.4 million Menlo Children’s Center in the renovated former police station. Combined, they serve 187 children, and the city subsidizes the programs $444,000 a year, according to city staff.
‘Closed-minded’
Councilwoman Lee Duboc, who along with Councilwoman Mickie Winkler has pushed for privatizing the city’s child care services, said she plans to speak with Mr. Durekas about his decision.
Ms. Duboc said it’s “disappointing” that opposition by union representatives and parents would scare away someone who could provide a “valuable service” to the city.
“Why is it we’re so closed minded?” she said. “I’m disappointed in the nastiness of some people, and this pattern of attacking the messenger.”
Councilwoman Kelly Fergusson was the only council member to oppose moving forward with a request for proposals in order to determine how the city can lower its subsidy of the two programs.
Ms. Fergusson said the council needs the results of the cost-allocation study that will begin in July and look at how efficiently the city’s programs run. She suggested the council raise fees for the programs to help cover the city’s costs.
The request for proposals is expected to take about eight months, according to Assistant City Manger Audrey Seymour. Until then, the council will likely raise fees for both programs in the fall. The rates for the children’s center preschool program could increase as much as 22.5 percent, and the rates for the Burgess school-age program could increase 8.5 percent.
‘Not threatened’
The city will also be considered a potential child care provider in the request for proposals.
“This is a great opportunity to demonstrate how much of a quality program we have, and to see how we compete,” said Michael Taylor, acting community services director. “I’m not threatened by this process — I’m looking forward to it.”
Mr. Taylor said now that the city’s programs will be in the new Menlo Children’s Center, the city will apply for accreditation — something that couldn’t be done while the children’s center preschool program was stationed in a portable classroom.
“We’re going to be familiar with this brand new facility, and I’m confident that our staff is going to smooth out any bumps during the transition,” he said.
INFORMATION
The city is scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the Menlo Children’s Center Saturday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The center will be open to the public. It’s located in the renovated former police station at the Civic Center, between Laurel and Alma streets.
