Florida child care provider: “we will raise our voice and be heard”

This is the story of Emilu Alvarez, director of the Flaeyc Leader Program in Miami, Florida.

On March 14, 2020, which feels like years ago, I remember sending a message to the parents in my program and telling them we were fine, that we were taking all precautions to avoid the spread of this epidemic that was already starting to threaten us with community spread.

The following week, as concern in the community rose, so did the absences of our children in the school. We immediately started calling families if a child was absent one day. We were trying to reassure them that we were following guidelines. Yet as a provider, I was feeling very concerned.

The following week was spring break, so I told my staff no to worry, that all would resume back to normal after spring break. We would use the break as a week to clean and quarantine, but we should be okay after that. Then our public schools announced they would not return after spring break. So, I knew we were going to go through difficult times.

At that time, I reached out to our local Department of Health and other authorities; they were just as lost as we were. Our mayor said “it was up to us” and what we chose to do. After 28 years as the director of a National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited program, I have always felt I had guidance and answers for all our dilemmas. This time I had none! I was devastated.

I could only think of the children in my care, whom would take care of them, where they would go, and whom would help my families with no extended family members in the U.S. What about my staff? How will they get paid? We are a non-profit, Church-based preschool and kindergarten. We do not pay unemployment taxes. How can I pay them?

There were so many weeks when I would go back to our school budget and try to negotiate with my vendors to defer payments. There was no revenue coming in to cover my payroll. We were completely shut down. Parents sent donations in lieu of payments. However, it was not nearly enough revenue. We applied for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), but our bank was not a source with the Small Business Administration, so we did not get the PPP in first phase.

I had to call my 53 staff and furlough them in one day. This is a staff that has been with me for 20 something years. A staff I have trained, mentored, cultivated, and sponsored in professional growth. I gave them little hope except when the money comes, we will pay you what you are owed. My staff continued teaching online, which is all new because we are a play-oriented hands on program. We did home visits. I read stories nightly on Zoom to my 280 children and sometimes to grandparents too.

But we could not reopen. We tried to reopen on May 4, but results from a survey told me parents were scared and they would rather stay virtual. We continued our new virtual style of instruction and visits and communications with parents on Zoom. We then received the PPP and were able to pay our vendors, our health benefits, and the staff.

We opened on June 8, for 76 families, mostly first responders. Yet with the new COVID-19 restrictions of having one staff and one room for nine children, I will not be able to bring back all my staff. We have spent over $2000 for 4 weeks of cleaning supplies and equipment needed to make our opening a safe and healthy one. The equipment is costly but worth all expense if it keeps our children and staff safe.

I am hopeful that this so-called “new normal” will be recognized as not being normal at all. I know my early childhood field is strong and resilient. We will raise our voice and be heard. I am also encouraged by the community of families that have faith in us and the way they have embraced all my decisions and protocols. I know there will be challenges, and there will be more uncharted waters to ride. Sometimes I feel my boat is so small, but we will get through this together.