Alderman Troupe wants questions answered about proposal to cut child care at SLCC

KSDK -- St. Louis First Ward Alderman Charles Q. Troupe wants the chancellor and Board of Trustees at St. Louis Community College to answer questions about the proposal to close child care centers on the Forest Park and Meramec campuses to save money.

Troup wants Chancellor Zelema Harris and the board to answer questions about the size of the budget for all four campuses and what the current enrollment is at each campus.

School officials told NewsChannel 5's Sharon Stevens on November 5 that 200 out of 28,000 students use the child care facilities. They pay about $4 an hour to keep their kids there; staff members pay $5 an hour.

The system picks up most of the cost: $790,000 annually.

Officials said the child care center program is a money loser. Community colleges traditionally have an older student body, many of whom have children. College officials make it clear that the child care centers are not the only things under consideration. The athletics department, programs, personal, all of these things are under review as well.

The Board of Trustees will make the final decision.

The Florissant Valley campus also has a child care center, but officials say it will remain open and is no danger of being placed on the possible reduction list. That's because the Florissant campus has a dedicated student-teacher program connected with the child care center.