Business consortium solves care issue via Uptown Kids

by Maria G. Hoover

SBJ Contributing Writer

Uptown Kids, 1108 N. Robberson, is the only center of its type in Springfield a consortium child-care center. The facility, which opened in August 1991, was created through the work of six different entities which made up the consortium: City Utilities, Greene County, the Springfield/Greene County Library, the Springfield News-Leader, Drury College and Springfield Public Schools.

Center Director Stephanie Grevillius said Uptown Kids provides child care for children ages 6 weeks-12 years, 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

She said the location of the center is good in terms of its proximity to consortium entities, and many parents can walk over to the center for lunch or birthday parties. Another benefit of the center is that it is a nonprofit corporation run by a board of directors made up of employees from the consortium companies.

"The consortium members have a voice, and (board members) are the voice which governs this facility," she said.

Dr. Dianne Buatte, director of early childhood education with Springfield R-12 Schools, is one of the founders of Uptown Kids. She still serves on the center's board of directors.

Buatte said the location of the center allows handy drop-off and pick-up for parents, and consortium members' employees who use the center see it as a benefit.

Mary Malter, budget officer for Greene County, agreed. Malter was on the center's board of directors for five years and served as board president in 1993 and 1994. Malter's two children were cared for at Uptown Kids. Her daughter began attending the center when she was 1 1/2, her son, when he was just 8 weeks.

Both children attended the center until they started kindergarten. Malter said the location of the center made a big difference to her, particularly with her newborn son.

"I had experience with the quality of care, plus I had no anxiety going back to work wondering what was happening to the baby. I could go over and spend my lunch hour with him, feed him and put him to sleep," she said.

Malter added, "The quality of care they give is very good, and the environment is child-friendly and safe. All of those things combined meant I didn't have child-care problems like other parents I know, such as having to change child care two or three times before finding one they're comfortable with, which I think creates anxiety for both parents and children," she said.

Kelly Staley, benefits representative for the Springfield R-12 School District, used Uptown Kids for her oldest daughter, who's now in school, and said she plans to take her newborn daughter there, as well. She said the location and the quality care are big benefits in terms of peace of mind.

"I know a lot of the staff members, and I'm very confident knowing that if something was wrong, they could get ahold of me. They treated my older daughter like one of their own, and I was really pleased with the care she got while she was there," Staley said.

Even though Uptown Kids was created as a benefit for consortium members' employees, it is also open to the public. And one benefit consortium employees don't get is cheaper pricing.

Grevillius said rates for all children, regardless of where their parents work, is $125 a week for infants and toddlers, $89 a week for 2-year-olds and $83 a week for ages 3 and up.

Grevillius said the center is open to the general public because it couldn't be filled with just the children of consortium employees. She said average enrollment at Uptown Kids is about 100. Of that number, 40 percent of the children are those of consortium employees, and the remaining 60 percent come from the public.

Grevillius said Uptown Kids is a not-for-profit organization and all revenue comes from child-care fees and various fund raisers.

The center staff works hard to make the center a leader in providing quality child care, using a philosophy of teaching rather than baby-sitting, she said.

In the future, Buatte said, consortium employees might be able to take advantage of lower fees. The idea of discounted fees for consortium members' employees has been discussed, she said, but the center hasn't yet reached the point where that is feasible. Buatte said until the building's mortgage, which is held by City Utilities, is paid off, discounts won't likely be an option.

"It is true that thoughts from the beginning were that there would be some discounted rates for consortium members' employees ... but just because the center hasn't yet reached all benefits allocated as part of the arrangement doesn't mean they never will," she said.