Wake schools looking to community groups to provide child care as students spend weeks learning outside class

Board of Education Chairman Keith Sutton told business leaders Thursday that the school system is working with community groups to set up places where students can do their online work with supervision and help.

But the schedule is causing headaches for parents who can't stay home from work but can't afford child care either.

Sutton said many of those parents are themselves teachers and school staff. So, the district is working on a subsidized child care option for employees, as well as other low-income families.

"Without child care, while their children are learning remotely, the teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria staff and other employees will be unable to keep our schools running," he said. "That is why creating a child care option for all employees – and parents who cannot be at home – has become a top priority."

The district plans to partner with the YMCA of the Triangle, municipal recreation programs, churches, nonprofits and other community groups that can provide not only child care, but also help with schoolwork while students are on the two-week online portion of the rotation.

"We know that there’s going to be a cost to that. It will not be free," Sutton said. "But we’re hoping to lessen the pain for families and those in the community by soliciting the support of the business community and others who can help us with that to try to alleviate some of the cost."

District officials are still working out the details of the program, and Sutton told Wake County business leaders they will likely be asked for help in the coming days.

"There are no good options with this 'Plan B,'" he said. "Who knows at this point? We may even have to move into 'Plan C' [of all online learning] if we continue to see community spread the way that we do. We are standing ready to pivot at any time that we need to."