Daycare center for kids of essential employees opens

Laurel School in Menlo Park. Menlo Park City School District photo.

BY EMILY MIBACH
Daily Post Staff Writer

Menlo Park City School District is opening up one of its campuses to be used as a daycare center for the children of those deemed as essential employees amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The daycare center will be hosted at Laurel School Lower Campus at 95 Edge Road in Atherton, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Initially, 30 children, with 10 per room will be part of the program, but if more spaces are needed, more classrooms may be opened up, said district spokeswoman Parke Treadway.
The daycare center will be run through Newton Center, which runs before and after school programs for school districts.

The daycare will be run pertaining to the county health officer orders for reducing risk of the spread of COVID-19, that includes keeping the groups to 12 people or fewer, not letting the children change groups, wearing face coverings and practice social distancing to the “greatest extent possible,” according to Treadway.

Children will be provided time to complete their school work at the program.

Both the caregivers and children will be screened for illness each day.

The program’s spots must be reserved each week, there will be no drop-in care. The program will charge $400 per child, per week.

Priority will be given to hospital workers, first responders and teachers. Those interested in applying can find the application here: https://bit.ly/3e2YCHZ.