Ike brings out unlikely day care visionary

GALVESTON — If mass spectral analysis sounds complicated, try opening a children’s day care facility.

Robert English, senior scientist in the mass spectrometry laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch, did just that and realized quickly that he was more comfortable dealing with proteins and molecular weight than trying to find a place for his young daughter to stay during the workweek.

The medical branch had a state-of-art day care facility that catered to 125 children before Hurricane Ike wiped it out in September 2008.

“And we were spoiled,” English said. “As parents, we had almost no idea how lucky we had it with that facility — until it was gone.”

For English, when it was time to get back to work on the medical branch campus at the end of October 2008, he was faced with a huge dilemma.

Most, if not all, of the island’s child care facilities were flooded, closed or delayed in reopening.

Out of necessity, he arranged to have two child care teachers watch his child, as well as the children of several co-workers and friends, at his house.

It was tough, he said, but he managed for about seven months that way.

He knew the medical branch’s Childcare Center was not a priority for renovation, and he had to come up with a more practical solution.

The full-time chemist decided to become part-time community activist and volunteer.

Enlisting the help of fellow medical branch parent Lyndie Orlean and former teacher and director at the medical branch’s Childcare Center Georgia Strain, English began the daunting task of opening The Children’s Coalition, a nonprofit, parent co-op, children’s day care center currently with an active board of directors (parents using the center) to oversee its development and operation.

They had a vision of creating a positive, nurturing child care center that maintained a quality learning environment and high teacher-to-child ratios.

However, it would take months for that vision to materialize.

“We had no idea what we were doing,” English said, only partly joking. “There are rigid state regulations required for a day care, and we were really just learning on the fly.”

English used something he calls the 10 percent rule, where if he asked 10 people for help, one person would be willing and able to help him.

“I did this several times and eventually had most aspects of opening a day care covered,” he said.

After asking around, English found an attorney — and fellow parent at the center — who donated his time to help file the paperwork to form the nonprofit corporation.

A colleague suggested he apply for Ike-recovery money, so he enlisted help in writing grant proposals.

Eventually, the center received a $10,000 grant from United Way as part of the Galveston County Recovery Fund as well as salary support for six months in 2009 through the Collaborative for Children.

It would take months to find a location for the new facility.

Like the medical branch, most places were damaged by the storm, so finding a usable space was difficult.

“Fortunately, Westminster Presbyterian Church opened their hearts and doors to us,” English said.

Although unaffiliated with the church, the center is housed in the fellowship hall, 5127 Ave. U in Galveston.

It has five classrooms and Strain said she has plans to open a sixth soon.

Before they could open for business, English had a bit more learning to do — liability insurance, fire code regulations and payroll.

Again, he asked for help. A local company donated the fire alarm system for the center, something he never could have afforded.

An accountant helped him set up payroll.

Toys and furniture for the classrooms? Vendors from a day care conference in Houston made donations worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Two companies donated the playground equipment and rubber mulch. Parents came together to build the fences, put together the playground and fill the sandbox.

Finally, after eight months, The Children’s Coalition opened its doors on May 18 to more than 20 children.

Many parents paid the first month’s tuition in full just to see it open faster.

The center is comprised mainly of former teachers and children from the medical branch’s Childcare Center with 14 staff members.

English said it is similar to the medical branch’s center in policy and philosophy but is open to everyone in the community.

The center takes children from the ages of 6 weeks to pre-K and uses a nationally approved curriculum called HighReach Learning, where children engage with people and things in their environment.

Strain, the center’s manager, said children are involved in hands-on experiences, real-life adventures and assisted discovery as they explore concepts through play.

“It provides lots of ways for children to explore, investigate and ‘fix out’ rather than rote memory-type learning,” she said.

The center also works with medical branch’s department of pediatrics to offer a setting where pediatrics residents can observe children in their natural environment and learn what quality child care does for their patients’ overall development.

The center provides care for 43 children and is licensed for up to 68 children. Strain is quick to point out, however, that enrollment will never be that high in order to maintain a high teacher-to-student ratio.

Strain is hoping to see this new center become what the medical branch’s was before Ike.

She worked at the medical branch’s Childcare Center for 13 years and proudly recalls designing the nursing rooms and “infant pods” herself.

She lost her home and her job, but it was losing the campus facility that crushed her.

“When I heard of the damage it received, it broke my heart,” she said, still tearing up more than 19 months later.

Fourth-year medical student Christion Rice had a rough time as well. His daughter Madeleine was just 3 months old when Ike hit.

“It was a horrible experience losing day care,” he said.

Rice had to take one month off to watch Madeleine, so his fourth year has been hectic because he’s now playing “catch-up.”

But his daughter is 21 months old now, knows her teacher’s name and is all smiles when she gets to day care in the mornings.

As with any nonprofit organization, The Children’s Coalition requires sustaining financial support and donations as they expand their services.

Grants paid the teachers for the first six months, but now tuition pays for the salaries and operating expenses.

English is hoping to be able to afford health insurance for the teachers soon.

The staff is working to become accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

This would make The Children’s Coalition the only NAEYC certified child care provider on the island.

English never envisioned worrying about all this before Ike. He was blissfully ignorant of the tedious work involved in opening such a facility, but he said it was well worth it.

“We all just wanted our children to have the quality of day care they had before Ike,” English said.

“I think we’ve accomplished that.”

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At A Glance

WHAT: The Children’s Coalition

WHEN: Open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Holidays are synchronized with the University of Texas Medical Branch clinical schedule.

WHERE: 5127 Ave. U in Galveston

CALL: 409-740-4009

ON THE WEB: ccgalveston.org