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July 2, 2009

Parents scramble for child care

By STEPHEN BARTLETT

PLATTSBURGH — Megan Morrissey-Kelly held out hope Pyramids Child Development Center would stay open.

But she learned otherwise this morning, and starting at 7 a.m., scrambled to find another child-care option for her 4-year-old son, Declan.

By 10 a.m., all she had was one interview.

“Everything is waiting lists.”

On Wednesday, a judge removed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from Pyramids, which is owned by Melissa Dorsett-Felicelli. Drowning in more than $1 million in outstanding debt, the center will no longer provide child care or services for children with special needs.

As a result, roughly 200 children and their families must turn elsewhere.



WIDESPREAD EFFECT

The State Education Department, area service agencies and public-school officials are scurrying to assist the special-needs children, who are entitled to educational services, by law, once they are preschool age.

Children with special needs are also entitled to early-intervention services through Clinton County from birth to age 3.

Child care is also needed for a number of children who do not fall under those categories.



HELPING HANDS

Adirondack Helping Hands Director Katie Calkins said her facility will “work diligently and quickly to absorb as many kids as we can.”

Helping Hands, which is located in Plattsburgh, has about 50 staff members and can provide classroom settings for children who need it.

“One of the positive things is that we have a very amicable relationship with the county and many other providers, and everyone is going to work hard to get through this,” Calkins said.

Summer programming is especially important to special-needs children from Pyramids who were getting ready for kindergarten in the fall.

“It’s a big summer for those kids, and this (Pyramids closure) is devastating to them,” Calkins said.



NORTH COUNTRY KIDS

North Country Kids may help, too.

“At this point, we are looking to fill a void and provide the highest quality of service we can to children in need,” said Director Stephanie Girard.

North Country Kids, located in Plattsburgh, offers special education, speech-language pathology, counseling and occupational and physical therapy.

The state-approved special-education program provides services from birth to age 3 and operates a preschool program.

“Our therapists are extremely passionate, and everyone is coming forward to help the children,” Girard said.

North Country Kids has some open slots and is applying to the Education Department for another classroom.

“We have a lot of concerned parents and therapists calling, and I am directing everyone to contact the local service coordinator through the Health Department and district,” Girard said.

“The State Education Department is acting very quickly to help ensure there is a smooth transition.”



‘A HUGE LOSS’

Morrissey-Kelly’s son has been at Pyramids since he was 15 months old.

“It is a phenomenal space and has phenomenal teachers. We are aware of what we put into his body and were really happy with the food choices. It is a holistic environment for children.”

Teachers made Declan feel like he was more than just part of the class.

“This is a huge loss, and I don’t know how this will be made up and absorbed,” Morrissey-Kelly said. “I don’t know how those state-mandated services will be provided, and I really hope they don’t suffer because of it.”

She feels horrible for the employees and other families with children there.



‘LOVING FAMILY’

Pyramids Director Vivian Reiner said the staff “has displayed all of the emotions that can be expected at a time like this. They were surprised that things did not go our way in court. They have made a valiant effort to keep things running during the times of uncertainty. Of course, they are very upset over the turn of events.

“Some have been reminiscing about the good times, in trying to keep their spirits up. Others are panicking as they don’t have jobs and will no longer have insurance.

“Several came back as they wanted to personally talk to the parents and children as we have become a big and loving family.”

Reiner said that over the years, “we have made every effort to make this an exemplary program, and we have been cited for this by the State Education Department.”



JOBLESS

Jackie Howie knew Pyramids might close, but the news shocked her all the same. The preschool assistant teacher had worked there for more than two years.

Her son, Cole, is there, too.

“I wake up every morning excited to go to work,” she said. “When Cole started, he was 9 months and learned sign language and to feed by himself, and he learned colors and to count. He learned so many things.”

Cole turns 3 in September, and Pyramids was a home to them.

Howie plans to look for work at another facility where she can continue teaching. She also must find a place for Cole.

“There’s a ton of kids who don’t have places to go,” Howie said.



READY TO START

One of those children is Michael and Darcy Hathaway’s 2-year-old daughter, Ella, who was excited to start at her new school this month.

Pyramids came highly recommended, and the facility impressed the Hathaways.

“We met with them last Wednesday and signed up for good and gave them two weeks up front and the two last weeks,” Mr. Hathaway said. “It was a little over $690 that I don’t believe we will get back.”

He said the check cleared June 26.

“We indicated there were rumors about financial woes, and I was informed we had absolutely nothing to worry about,” Hathaway said.

“We are really heartbroken over it. In this area, trying to find good, quality day care to trust your most special gift to is a very difficult task.”



— Staff Writer Joe LoTemplio contributed to this report.

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