Gallaudet CDC Parent Meeting with Gary Aller

Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 3:30 p.m.

College Hall, Lyceum

In attendance
Gary Aller

Interpreters Rachael and Caitlin

CDC Parents:
Cat Valcourt-Pearce (faculty; Cole’s mom)
Sheri Youens-Un (faculty; has 14 mo. Old Pierre and hopes he can attend CDC)
Tonya Stremlau (faculty; twin’s mom)
Fred Swann (has had 2 kids thru CDC; 1 still drops in)
Jes Ellis (daughter at CDC)
Cindy (has had 3 kids go thru CDC)
Diana (faculty; has had 3 kids go thru CDC)
Jim McFadden (Tristan’s grandpa)
Holly McFadden (Tristan’s grandma)
Eric Smith (Cole’s dad)
Tom Branen (Finian’s dad)
Abbey Powell (Finian’s mom)

NEXT MEETING: Friday, March 4 at 3:30 College Hall, Lyceum (interpreters will be scheduled)
Gary will bring budget; parents to bring specific marketing/advertising/recruitment ideas.

Gary reviewed budget in general terms and promised to bring copies of budget to next meeting (needs to
redact proprietary salary information). He spoke with HHS yesterday and they are very concerned about
the CDC possibly closing, given the daycare crisis of over 40 closing in the past year or so.

There are two options on the table: CDC open to all and CDC open to only GU. The third option of
closing completely is off seems to be off the table because at a minimum, the CDC must be open as a
benefit to faculty, staff, and students, particularly as the school tries to recruit more non-traditional
students who may need childcare services on campus.

Gary said that the second option (open to ONLY GU faculty, staff and students) is workable: would share
two positions with the Clerc Center and only staff for two (maybe three) classrooms of 16 kids total.

Most of our time was spend discussing the option to keep the CDC open to GU and outside, the option
that everyone seems to prefer. Almost every parent provided compelling and moving testimonials about
the value this model provides to all stakeholders and why it should be continued and expanded.

Gary outlined requirements for option #1

Gary said that this model must work* with GU resources/tuition only; he said it’s nice parents have
offered pledges, but cannot rely on parent fundraising or volunteers long term. Gary defined must work as
breaking even or at least significantly reducing deficit. A parent/faculty member also stated that she spoke
with Fred Weiner, who said that if CDC can reduce deficit by 50%, they’ll consider keeping it open.

Proposed Staffing Model

Would need to operate at 50-kid capacity. This requires ten staff for five classes, including director (with
MA degree), administrative assistant shared with the Clerc Center, and eight teachers. Total operating
budget for 52 weeks (includes salary/benefits only): $562,000 (could go down $30-40K if able to share
administrative assistant with the Clerc Center). A 44 week academic schedule brings salary down to
$498K. Question about camp (8 week program) and whether it should continue.

Classroom composition: 5 classes: 4 classroom for kids age 2.9-4.4 and 1 classroom for other (whatever
is needed). This model would have 16 slots reserved for GU (2 classrooms of 8) and 34 slots would have
to come from outside (if not through GU).

FYI, current student enrollment is 27.

Challenges
• The CDC has operated at a deficit of $60-160K annually for past 5+ years (last year was $131K).
This year deficit so far only at $30K, but it’s because Gary hasn’t filled staff vacancies; is
intentionally waiting on this until CDC fate is determined.
• A parent asked why the CDC is a financial liability, when is should be an asset. Gary explained
that we are a hybrid of a daycare and prep school, and staff are paid higher based on GU policy
(including benefits).
• Tuition: For this model to work, would keep GU kids at same rate ($220/week), but would have
to raise community rate by 30-45%, which may price out many families. Voucher kids are on
fixed rate of $178/week.
• Need to determine appropriate tuition rate for outside families; rate hike could be additional
$5K/year ($325/wk); some are already behind in payments and an increase would price them out
of the CDC.
• Currently, part time kids are taking up full time slots but paying reduced rate. Under new model,
could only take full time students so that we could charge full rate
• Cannot go below this age range for many reasons: licensing restrictions, cannot convert current
space to accommodate infants, and it’s too expensive due to required teacher:student ratios.
Volunteers and interns are great to have, especially when there are full time teacher vacancies,
but they do not count as staff. Licensing requires 8 full time teachers. Gary reported that here is
no staff at the Clerc Center that can be detailed to the CDC.
• Gary is “not confident” we could get 50 kids, but many parents said they didn’t think it would be
a problem if we had a little marketing (given the unique program and need for childcare).
• DC provides free services to kids age 3+, so lost most of this market. [However, Maryland does
not have this benefit, so parents need services!]
• Gary looked into outsourcing completely, but there was no interest because CDC is too
special/too small.

Opportunities
• CDC is a great career experience opportunitly and laboratory for graduate and undergraduate
students and great way to engage the community, which are all part of the strategic plan.
• Gary said donor already lined up and interested in paying for capital improvements/facilities
update, which would be necessary to get reaccreditation; this would include new carpet, lighting,
total kitchen renovation, getting flatscreen TVs, new supplies, converting the art room to a
classroom, and more! Work would happen this summer in time for fall semester.
• Getting accredidation will increase voucher kids, for annual increase from about $8K to $10-15K.
• Budget for snacks and supplies is around $20K/year; parent suggested we try to get these items
donated (e.g. Sam’s Club).
• CDC is not billed for space; it is an in-kind donation from GU.
 • Grant opportunities! Working with the Clerc Center is great because this would allow the CDC to
appeal for grants, though would need a grants administrator to manage this (process, reports,
etc.). Gary spoke with Ed Boso (VP of the Clerc Center) about this possibility and can have
further discussions should this option move forward.
• Gary noted that if the decision were made to keep CDC open (permanently or on some trial basis)
he would be willing to budget $10K/year for marketing the CDC (to include brochure, website,
advertising).
• Can market to school fairs (though Gary said it’s too late for this year), on The Hill (e.g. Hill
Rag), school districts, Maryland (parents believe this is a huge opportunities for new families,
particularly if we promote the bilingual benefit for 3-4 year olds)
• Marketing points: CDC is an innovative, important bilingual program; ASL is fourth largest
language in the U.S.
• Could be replicated elsewhere
• Two books have been based on CDC research; could appeal for new grants or other funding
sources for longitudinal study/outcomes-based research on CDC kids. This research would
require a control group, which would be kids in traditional Child care facilities (wouldn’t have
the same opportunities for research funding if only open to GU, since wouldn’t have an easily
definable control group).
• Parents pointed out that at least TEN academic departments benefits directly from the CDC; Gary
said including the academic departments doesn’t add revenue but adds value to the program.
• CDC brings internship opportunities to GU students, which is more cost effective than going off
campus (particularly considering interpreter expenses).
• If there are 10-15 slots not filled, could open to a corporation(s); they would be charged a
premium so that their employees would have on-demand childcare services (CDC as a swing
space daycare).
• Parents think there are many fundraising opportunities for local businesses and corporations who
would love to be affiliated with such a unique program. Could market to NOMA-BID and the
new businesses coming to the area.
• Register the CDC as a CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) beneficiary and get donations from
federal employees.
• GU is a big player of 60 different land owners in area, owning four acres of land; there is tons of
development happening and GU is at the table in discussions, hoping to maintain the farmer’s
market with a mix of retail, restaurants, housing, etc. and is lobbying to increase safety and traffic
control in the area, expand sidewalks with good lighting and encourage signing environment.
• Sixth Street Development brings many new opportunities to the CDC, but is at least five years
out. Should still be considered now in planning process.

Gary said that Tommy Wells is very interested in keeping the CDC open to the community; they are
meeting week (2/28) to discuss opportunities.

Parents should think creatively and bring marketing ideas to next meeting, because work will start ASAP
in April.