Policies & Rates

Late Payment Policy

Effective March 1, 2010

Late Payment Policy
Effective March 1, 2010

We delight in providing quality education and care for children and families, and are only able to do so if we remain financially responsible.

All tuition is due Monday after receiving your bill for school-age, toddler and all-day preschool care.

Accounts that are past due more than two billing cycles will be charged a $25 fee. For example, a bill that goes out on the 1st will be due on the 8th. If not paid by the 16th, there will be a $25 fee. (If you have arranged with the office to pay twice-monthly, the bills from the 1st and the 8th must be paid by the 15th to avoid the $25 fee.)

Accounts that are past due more than three weeks will result in suspension of child care until the account is paid in full. We will reserve your child’s space for one month.

Preschool-only accounts should be paid in full by the next month’s bill.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please visit with the director to develop a payment plan.

We love each and every one of our families and dislike the ‘business’ part of this, but we must be accountable financially to St. John Church. Your prompt payment will assure this.

Severe Weather

The Child Development Center practices regular fire and tornado drills.  In the event of a real severe weather evacuation to the basement we strongly encourage parents who may be arriving at the Center to stay with their child in the basement until the warning has expired.

Please see our Snow Day Policy below for Severe Winter Weather information.

Absence Policy

Families with school age children will not be charged on no school days if they have not registered for full day childcare that day. However, if a child is registered for care on a no school day, and does not attend, the account will be charged the full day rate.

Daily Absences

Each family must at the time of enrollment and re-enrollment, contract for the number of days each week their child(ren) will attend the Center and commit to paying the scheduled rate. All families are required to report any absence by 9am each day.

Families will not be charged for childcare when the Center is open on snow days as long as the Center is notified of the child’s absence by 9am. (Families with school age children will be charged their regular fee for care when their child is NOT present on the morning of a “late start” day of school. Extended care fees apply to children in attendance on the morning of a “late start” day of school).

Extended Absences

Maternity: The holding fee for families who temporarily withdraw their child from the Center while mother is on maternity leave is $25.00 per week for up to six weeks. After that, the contracted rate will apply.

Vacations: Families must register for childcare over the Christmas holiday. Families will only be charged for the days registered, using their contracted daily rate. There is no charge for days not registered for during the Christmas holiday. Up to 10 free days of vacation taken between May 25-August 18 will be given at no charge as long as the Center office is notified of those days by May 1.

Other: There will be occasions throughout the year to earn free absences which can be used anytime throughout the year. Theses opportunities will always be posted in advance on the counter in the entryway.

Illness Policy

Children should stay home from school if they have:

  • a fever over 100. A child may return when s/he has been fever free for 24 hours without the aid of medication. Please do not temporarily mask the symptoms of illness by using a pain or fever reducer.
  • been vomiting within the last 24 hours.
  • had diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
  • swollen or painful joints, or other injuries requiring further treatment.
  • an unexplained rash.
  • a severe headache

Please give your sick child time to fully and comfortably recuperate at home. You can help prevent spreading illnesses by following these guidelines.

Snow Day Policy

Families will not be charged for childcare when the Center is open on snow days as long as the Center is notified of the child’s absence before 9am.  If your child is enrolled in morning preschool only:  There will be No Preschool when school is closed or there is a late start due to inclement weather.

Should the director decide that weather conditions are unsafe for children, parents and staff to travel, the center may close. An announcement will be placed on the main page of the website, and 1011 news.

Please use good judgement when the weather is poor.  It is not worth risking the safety of you or your child when the weather is bad.

Entry Into and Exit From Parking Lot

Vehicles entering our parking lot must do so from Columbia heading SOUTHBOUND making a right turn into the lot. Vehicles should park in the striped parking stalls, NOT parallel to the front of the building or in the Police Station’s lot.  It is illegal to make a left hand turn into the parking lot from Columbia.

Vehicles leaving our parking lot must exit through the west driveway which accesses Hwy 34, (Main Street), or you may use the alley along the west side of the building which accesses Seward Street. If you choose to exit through the alley, please use EXTREME CAUTION. The entire alley is lined with blind spots which give no warning to or from an approaching pedestrian.