CONEJO VALLEY : Child-Care Fees Up, 6 Assistants Laid Off

Conejo Valley school officials voted Thursday night to lay off six child-care assistants and raise the fees for the child-care program 25%.

The Conejo Valley Unified School District’s child-care program is expected to have a $180,453 deficit at the end of this school year. Fees for child care from 7 to 8:15 a.m. will go from $65 to $80 a month, and kindergarten care from 11:40 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. will increase from $90 to $120 a month. Care for students from 2:35 to 6 p.m. will increase from $155 to $190 a month.

Layoffs will reduce the number of child-care assistants to 15.

The before-school program will be dropped at Acacia, Glenwood, Madrona, Park Oaks, University, Walnut, Westlake and Westlake Hills elementary schools because of low enrollment. Morning programs will remain at Banyan, Conejo, Ladera, Meadows and Wildwood elementary schools.

However, the district would begin offering child care from 2:35 to 6 p.m. at Aspen Elementary School and from 11:40 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Weathersfield Elementary School.

A total of 635 students are enrolled in the program that started in 1988 and is now offered at 15 elementary schools.

In addition to the increase in fees, $15 will be charged for child care on days when the school staff works but children are not required to be at school, and no care will be offered during the first week of winter break.