This is Sarah Kruse’s first term at LBCC. With enrollment at an all-time high, she took whatever classes she could get into. Her schedule includes day and evening classes on three of LBCC’s campuses. Kruse also works and has two children in elementary school. Her schedule sometimes conflicts with the early release days the Greater Albany School District has implemented this year.
On Wednesday, when her two children get out of school at 1:25 p.m., Kruse will be in class. Fortunately her husband, a stay-at-home dad, will be there to pick up the kids. “We’re lucky that way,” says Kruse, “a lot of people don’t have that option.”
According to its website, the Greater Albany School District has 11 no-school days, 14 early-release Wednesdays, and three unpaid cut days this year. LBCC is in session most of these days, posing a problem for students with children in the Albany district.
To help alleviate timetable issues, the Albany School District has partnered with several community organizations. These choices may help parents solve childcare problems, but they can be costly.
The Community Before & After School Child Care Program (CAP) provides supervised activities for $10, after a one time $35 registration fee.
Albany Parks & Recreation offers themed activities, but only at two of the 16 elementary schools, also for $10 each day.
Themed events can be found at the YMCA each Wednesday for a one-time $10 registration fee, which includes a t-shirt. The cost is $5 for members and $7 for non-members. One added bonus at this location is that kids can swim in an indoor heated pool.
The Boys & Girls Club is the most affordable option, however. Their annual membership fee is only $25. There is no extra fee for care on early-release days, though there is a $6 fee on days when a child attends before 10 a.m.
LBCC operates the Periwinkle Child Development Center, which offers a kindergarten class on campus with extended care, "but for older kids (1st grade and above) or students enrolled in other public schools, there is not an on-campus option" said a contact at the PCDC office.
As a last resort, LBCC students may have to choose between missing class or bringing their child(ren) to class with them. But students should take their classmates and instructors into consideration before bringing children to class with them.
While LBCC’s policy prohibits bringing children into college classrooms, it does allow some wiggle room: “Under most circumstances, children are not allowed in classrooms. Faculty may make exceptions to this rule on a case-by-case basis.”
Biology instructor Diana Wheat says early in her career at LBCC, she served as a substitute for a class in which a student was unable to find a babystitter and asked if her “child (could) stay if she took the test in the back of the class.” Having sympathy for the student, Wheat allowed the child to stay and later found out “a lot of students complained to the instructor later about how disruptive that was for them to take the class. I learned a hard lesson. Hence the policy.”
Wheat says “It often comes down to what is in the best interests of all the students in the class not just the mother or father.”
While some instructors do allow children to sit in their classrooms on an occasional basis, others expressly state in their sylabi that children are not allowed. It is a good idea for parents to contact their instructors as soon as they realize there are conflicts with their class schedules and those of their children. Many instructors are parents, too, and understand. Oftentimes, tests, assignments and attendance arrangements can be worked out when instructors are aware of the students’ needs.
Child Care Options
541-917-7777
333 Broadalbin St. SW
Albany, Ore
541-926-6666
1215 Hill Street SE
Albany, Ore
541-967-9322
250 SW Broadalbin St., Suite 2B
Albany, Ore
541-926-4488 ext 318
3311 Pacific Blvd. SW
Albany, Ore
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