Parent urges Burlington district to address steep childcare price increases

At the Nov. 24 Burlington Community School District meeting, a parent identified in the record as Brian Johnson told the board that childcare costs in the district have risen sharply over the past five years and urged officials to find sustainable funding and program models.

“In just 5 years, the cost of childcare at [the district program] for our family per child has risen over $170 a week with a small employee discount to now $265 starting December 1,” Brian Johnson said during public comment, adding that the increase makes the program unaffordable for many families and for educators who rely on it.

Johnson urged the board to prioritize seeking grants, partnerships and creative programming models used successfully in other communities, saying those options could keep childcare available to teachers and staff. He added that, without solutions, some families and district employees are considering leaving due to costs.

Amy Weiner also identified herself during public comment; her remarks in the record were brief. The board did not announce any immediate new funding allocations for childcare during the meeting and did not place a related item on the consent agenda.

The parent’s comments were a public appeal to the board to explore funding opportunities and partnerships to preserve affordable childcare for district staff and families; board members did not make a formal response or commit to a specific follow-up at the time the meeting record closed.