Dear Editor: Why is money being set aside for recreation? Is it because of lack of school funding? If the city already owns the pool, is the money to be used for staffing it? Is the school district no longer able to support sports programs, or are the requested funds to assist in student travel?
Sitka is a recreation paradise with so many hiking trails and cabins. Most families own a motor boat, canoe or kayak. Sitka Trail Works, SAIL, Scouts, On-the-Run, cross country and track, as well as Sitka Tribe of Alaska, offer family outdoor activities. There are also numerous runs such as the Turkey Trot, Solstice Run, Running of the Boots, Fools Run at Midnight and the Alpine Adventure Run. Basketball hoops and bike trails are also available to the public.
In the May election, 80 percent of the voters said ‘‘no’’ to cutting jobs/school taxes, and discouraging young families from living here. Unless I get more info to persuade me otherwise, I will vote no on more city funds going to recreation.
The Child Care Coalition requested those funds some time ago. Those funds are needed to train teens attending three local high schools. Those classes are dual enrollment, so costly! Acquiring a portion of the Sitka Hospital’s Trust would allow Sitka teens to continue to grow in the area of child development.
There is a shortage of care for infants and toddlers in Sitka. STA grants may not always be available to fund the child development classes. The city should back child care in Sitka, financially. Yes, Betty Eliason Child Care Center owns its building but wages should be higher for their staff. The issue is wages to attract consistency and new hires. BECCC lost staff to the school district’s preschool. The school district did not need to pay more for electricity, space, or maintenance to host their preschool. They could afford higher wages for their preschool staff from the fees parents pay. Mt. Edgecumbe Preschool shares a campus with the Pioneers Home, so does not pay rent.
Because ratios of staff to infants or toddlers is higher, those programs cost more to run. Infants and toddlers also require special equipment, preschools do not need.
In order to keep young families in Sitka, the city must support child care financially.
Christy Williams,
60-year resident and former teacher at Head Start, BECCC, SEARHC Child Care, Mt. Edgecumbe
Preschool and at
Christy’s Kids home child care
