Shirley Swartley

Bruce Bley

Elisa Gatz

Tim Rockhold

Joie Roddy

Janet Barnhart

Patrice LeFevre

Tom DePasquale

Cheryl O'Neil

Amy Yaklich

Nancy Tooker

Kris Hippen

Mary Rhodes

The committee discussed the following:

Tom began researching high schools with day care centers. Rock Island High School has had a center for 12 years. Tom's research led him to the ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education), DCFS (Department of Child and Family Services) and DHS (Department of Human Services). He spoke to Greg Brugler who is with the DCFS regional office in Rockford. Mr. Brugler is in charge of licensing procedures for day care centers.

Mr. Brugler reported that in Rockford, there is only one school with a day care, Roosevelt Center. The school is an alternative ed/GED school. Phyllis Lukman is the director (815) 966-3250, ext. 3218.

The Rockford schools had researched day cares for high schools 10-15 years ago. The main opposition was "it may promote more sexual activity if students knew a day care was available at their high school."

According to Mr.Brugler:

~ If the population is 3 years or older, no license is needed (Part 407 of the 138 page license manual which Tom has a copy of)

~ Classroom must be minimum of 800 square feet

~ Ground level with open design and multiple exits

~ 4 quadrants of separate lighting (to darken areas for sleep)

~ 2 sinks in separate areas - one for diaper changing station, one for food preparation

~ Refrigerator available

~ Bottle warmer - no microwave

~ Bathrooms with either smaller toilets or step stools

~ 105 degree hot water heater

~ Gas forced air

~ Floor heating is a nice extra for children

~ If classrooms are to be built, they must be connected through a central hallway

He also stated that keeping a staff is a difficulty.

He mentioned possible funding areas: State office of Judy Barr-Topinka and the Rosie O'Donnell Foundation (the Rockford area has benefited from both) or a co-op with established day cares in the area.

Three entities that we would need clearance from are the Health Department, Fire Department and State Fire Marshall. He mentioned that the State Fire Marshall's office would not approve an older high school structure such as SHS. It would require a new structure.

He also stated if we were to develop something this year, we should be talking to the state people now. He stated it is expected that 20,000 state level people will retire on December 31st. The Governor is projected to lay off 7,000 - 8,000 state employees. DHS is currently laying off.

Other schools with some type of day care center in DeKalb/Sycamore, Madison and Deerfield, Chicago area.

Information on the "Cradle to Classroom" program. In schools without this program, 70% of students who get pregnant won't graduate and 54% won't get their GED. Schools with the program have a 94% graduation rate and 70% go on to college.

Found a few useful websites: http://www.d321.k12.id.us/~Central/daycare.html , http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/06-99/069cradle.htm, http://www.cps.K12.il.us/Communications/Chicago_Educator/Cradle_to_Classroom/cradle_to_classroom.html

Re-establishing the teen mother mentoring program that was in place years ago.

Having a video made depicting teen motherhood and its hardships.

Inviting others to be on the committee (students, community members, doctors, nurses, health department employees)

Statistics that Chris Ducoing compiled regarding known pregnancies and births at SHS. The committee also stated a need to find out the drop out rate of teen mothers and the percentage of those dropouts that get their GED, not only at SHS but county-wide statistics, as well.

Information from schools with daycare centers on how the implementation of the daycare affected their schools pregnancy rate.

The need to visit these other schools with centers.

~ Mary Rhodes and Bruce Bley will work on getting others involved in the committee (Linda Snyder, Jean Mertes, David Barajas)

~ Joie Roddy will contact Rock Island High School to set up a visit

~ Elisa Gatz will contact DeKalb/Sycamore and Chicago area schools to set up visits

~ Janet Barnhart and Kris Hippen will continue to research and compile statistics

~ Chris Ducoing will work on starting the mentoring/support group for SHS students that are pregnant/with children. Elisa and Janet are willing to meet with this group.