Days after Congress passed a spending bill directing $1.38 million for a new child care facility at Vine Hill Elementary School, on March 16 Scotts Valley Council approved an agreement with Scotts Valley Unified School District to get the program up and running.
The parties had been meeting for months, and the city council already pledged $75,000 to go ahead with the demolition of the old building, which is supposed to happen during spring break (April 4-8).
Under the agreement, SVUSD will oversee the installation of a temporary facility, maintain it, and seek funding for subsidies and scholarships (in partnership with the City and whatever child care provider is selected).
For its part, the City agreed to do the tear-down, front as much as $259,963 to get things going and do funding research, too.
Staff reported it will cost $114,885 for the modular building—with a $10,000 contingency on top—this fiscal year, and $49,000 for the rental and maintenance next fiscal year. In fiscal year 2023/24, it expects to spend $49,000 for the rental and maintenance and $37,078 to return it.
This year’s money is to come from the general fund (with future years’ worked into respective budgets), although that money is to be replenished by the federal dollars when it arrives.
The child care program falls within the City’s Recreation Division.
In March of 2020 recreation services were halted, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Last fall, government consulting firm Management Partners recommended a third-party manage the school child care program.
“We had some quick decisions that we were trying to make,” said Public Works Director Chris Lamm, describing the work of a child care subcommittee that met on Jan. 27, Jan. 31 and Feb. 15 and discussed the benefits of commercial leases versus portables. “The temporary trailers were selected to be the superior option just in terms of timing, meeting the needs of the program and also cost.”
Councilman Jack Dilles said it looks like Scotts Valley is finally on the “fast track” to getting the program up and running, and asked if it would be ready by fall.
Staff confirmed that was the goal.
Dilles asked if supply chain issues could cause a delay.
“Part of the urgency was to make sure we can get the trailers themselves procured or reserved,” Lamm said. “The district did a lot of outreach and found a company that had facilities available.”
