Partnership of ASH warns of childcare staffing crisis; Mount Jefferson center seeks staff and board members

Kim, director of the Partnership of ASH, told the Ashe County Board of Commissioners on June 2 that the county faces a significant childcare staffing shortage and that Mount Jefferson Child Development Center needs additional staff and board members to expand capacity.

“Mount Jefferson Child Development Center has full time enrollment of 62 children,” Kim said. The center serves children aged about 6 weeks to 5 years and is currently led by a three-member board: Mary Jo Black, Michelle Lemley and Chandra Phillips. Mount Jefferson’s center director is Karen Wolford. Kim said the center has enough staff to operate at current capacity but could serve an additional 30 children — increasing full enrollment to 92 — if it can hire more teachers and assistants. She said the center currently employs about six staff members.

Kim described countywide shortages: “Over 250,” she said, when asked how many children are on waiting lists. Presenters said many centers are operating at roughly half capacity because they lack staff; centers reported difficulty retaining workers because childcare wages are often below local living standards and because stabilization funds that had supported centers during earlier years are no longer available.

Kim outlined training and incentive programs the Partnership and partners are providing: the Partnership has offered more than 45 training courses this year and works with Wilkes Community College to provide affordable EDU 119 and early childhood credential courses. The Partnership offers financial incentives for education: $250 per semester for two-year programs and $500 per semester for four-year programs via application, contingent on a minimum B grade in courses. Kim said the EDU 119 course can be condensed into shorter formats for expedited training.

Kim also flagged proposed state policy changes and funding. She said the state budget includes a proposed $7,500,000 nonrecurring allocation for Smart Start Partnerships to expand mental and behavioral health services for children, families and staff. She also spoke about House Bill 412, which would introduce a new rating system and, in some provisions, raise allowable staff-to-child ratios for certain age groups — a change Kim and local providers said they find concerning for infant/toddler care. “For instance, for children 2 to 4 babies, increases the number from 10 to 15 children that you can have a classroom,” Kim said, describing the possible change and its implications for care quality.

Commissioners asked about staffing, substitute pools and whether volunteers could help. Kim said volunteers and substitutes must meet the same qualification and background-check requirements as paid staff. She said the Partnership pays for background checks and fingerprinting for candidates and can teach the EDU 119 course locally. Commissioners and several attendees discussed consolidation of facilities, possible relocation of centers from sites with poor parking and access, and industry-sponsored childcare options for shift workers; presenters said some employers have supported employee childcare slots.

Kim and others noted an ongoing conversation with state leaders about universal prekindergarten; a county staff member and local educators are engaged in discussions about bringing universal pre-K to the county. Kim also credited a partnership with GE Aerospace for part of Mount Jefferson’s award-winning programming and emphasized that sustainable solutions will require higher wages and benefits for childcare staff, which most centers cannot pay from current fee structures.

ENDING: The Partnership of ASH urged the county to support training and funding initiatives, to consider consolidation where appropriate, and to work with employers and state programs to expand affordable, stable childcare capacity across Ashe County.