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Finding space for more kids

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Molly Shore

Working parents scrambling to find dependable day care for their

children locally will soon have another option when a new, privately

operated child-care center opens its doors in February.

Knowledge Learning Corp., in partnership with the nonprofit

Burbank Housing Corp., will operate Knowledge Beginnings Child

Development Center at 2300 N. Ontario St. The center will have the

capacity to care for 92 children ranging in age from newborn to 5.

Many dual-income parents in the workforce today have created a

tremendous demand for more child-care centers, said Ellen Corrigan,

Knowledge Learning Corp.’s corporate services manager.

“There is always a need for high-quality early childhood education

to promote future success in school,” Corrigan said.

A 1999 child-care needs assessment survey showed that 2,434

Burbank infants and toddlers needed day care compared to 173

available spaces. The parents of 3,710 Burbank preschoolers vied for

1,818 openings at that time, the county study found.

Fees for full-time care at the new center will range from $165 per

week for pre-school children to $220 a week for infants and

toddlers, Corrigan said.

Although her organization will oversee the day-to-day operation of

the day care center, the Burbank Housing Corp. is the facility’s

owner, said Judith Arandes, the Knowledge Learning Corp.’s executive

director.

Child care is a component of other housing projects run by the

corporation, Arandes said.

“However, this is the first time we’ve ever gone into full-scale

day care,” she said.

Eric Hansen, the city’s interim director of Park, Recreation and

Community Services, said that there are still openings, with first

priority given to families living in housing projects administered by

the Burbank Housing Corp.

Residents of Burbank Redevelopment Agency projects or

city-sponsored affordable housing projects will have second choice,

followed by residents and those whose principal work place is in

Burbank.

“It’s an exciting project,” Hansen said. “It’s a very inviting

facility that’s being built over there. We’re real excited about

the opportunities.”

For enrollment information, call 1-877-CHILDHOOD.

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