South Bay : Space Shortage Forces Closure of Day Care Program
A shortage of classroom space is forcing the Hawthorne School District to close its day care program at the end of June for 120 elementary school students.
In a 4-1 vote last week, the school board approved closing the program because expanding enrollment means extra classrooms would be needed at Eucalyptus, Ramona and Williams elementary schools.
“It was a tough decision,” Hawthorne School District Supt. Donald Carrington said. “But the district has far exceeded our estimates for growth. We simply ran out of space.”
Five years ago, the Hawthorne School District opted for a year-round schedule to handle increased student enrollment. The program cared for children before and after school, and when they were out of session on the year-round calendar.
The day care program costs $45 a week. It is organized by the city and uses four classrooms in three of the city’s seven elementary schools.
City Manager Bud Cormier said the day care program has paid for itself. “Funding is not the problem. The problem is finding space,” he said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
