Our mission and social justice branches are guiding every decision in our response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Helpful Resources About Returning to School After Exposure or Illness
As scientists and public health officials learn more about this disease, recommendations can change quickly. In particular, many questions are often raised when determining when a student or staff member can return to school. Apple Playschools is required by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to make decisions about returning to care in consultation with the Washtenaw County Health Department. In general, our colleagues at the health department and the state are using these resources to guide their decision making.
- Washtenaw County Health Department Quarantine and Isolation Webinar for Parents and Guardians
- COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation FAQs for Parents or Guardians
- Washtenaw County Guidance, "What To Do If You're Sick"
- CDC Guidelines for When to Start and End Quarantine in English and Español.
- Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Guidance (Click on "Guidelines for Safe Child Care Operations During COVID-19")
Watch the Community Meeting RecordingOn April 13, our Board and Executive Director hosted a Community Meeting to report on how we responded to the COVID-19 crisis and provided an update on our financial situation.
As of September, our annual revenue was down 50% and expenses have stayed the same or increased since the spring. While government assistance helped us to reopen, there is a long, uncertain road ahead. The Survive + Thrive Fund helps us keep the cost of care affordable even as we increase staffing ratios, limit class size, purchase essential protective equipment, and prepare to sustain future school closures. |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Our Operations During the COVID-19 Crisis
Are teachers still being paid? Have any teachers been laid off? What are the long-term plans for supporting staff?
With a few exceptions to accommodate teachers’ individual needs, all of our Mentor, Apprentice, and Flex Teachers, as well as Admin Team Members were paid through the Spring 2020 closures while working from home. At this point, no teachers have been laid off or furloughed due to the COVID-19 crisis. Our Board of Directors unanimously approved a pay increase for the 20-21 school year and we are continuing to think about how to support teachers in their mental, physical, and financial health through whatever uncertainties lie ahead.
It is our honor to have been able to provide for our staff and we could not have done it without the generosity of our school community and low-interest federal loans and grants. If you would like to join our fundraising effort to provide essential work and care during this crisis, please donate to our Survive + Thrive Campaign, or start your own fundraiser through our easy peer-to-peer platform.
It is our honor to have been able to provide for our staff and we could not have done it without the generosity of our school community and low-interest federal loans and grants. If you would like to join our fundraising effort to provide essential work and care during this crisis, please donate to our Survive + Thrive Campaign, or start your own fundraiser through our easy peer-to-peer platform.
What are families required to pay in the event of a school closure? Will tuition payments be required to “hold a spot” for my child?
We have updated our Family Handbook and Policy Manual to include information about major disaster closures and contracts. Please review that information carefully.
Will Apple PLayschools Close Again? How is Apple Playschools approaching that decision?
We cannot know what the future holds regarding Michigan's Safe Start phase plan or the community spread of COVID-19. We are currently following direction provided by the State of Michigan as well as Washtenaw County and the City of Ann Arbor.
We make decisions about how and when to close or shift operations using our Guiding Principles for Difficult Decisions. We work in close collaboration with county health officials, our state licensing consultant, and our professional networks (such as Child Care Network and the Early Childhood Directors Association). We also have family members in the Apple Playschools community with professional expertise in public health and policy development who regularly advise us on how to implement changes we expect to cleaning/sanitizing practices, classroom size and layout, health screening procedures, etc.
We make decisions about how and when to close or shift operations using our Guiding Principles for Difficult Decisions. We work in close collaboration with county health officials, our state licensing consultant, and our professional networks (such as Child Care Network and the Early Childhood Directors Association). We also have family members in the Apple Playschools community with professional expertise in public health and policy development who regularly advise us on how to implement changes we expect to cleaning/sanitizing practices, classroom size and layout, health screening procedures, etc.
WILL STAFF HAVE PAID SICK TIME WHEN SCHOOLS REOPEN?
Currently, our staff are eligible for accrued paid time off starting with 8 days a year. We will be reviewing this policy with our human resources consultant and legal counsel to see what flexibility may be needed in response to this health crisis. We are continuing to evaluate and plan for increased costs associated with paid leave and hiring substitutes.
WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR HIRING TEACHERS TO FILL OPEN STAFF POSITIONS?
We have many open positions in our schools right now, including teaching positions that require several weeks of training and onboarding before a teacher can begin working in the classroom. To learn more about open positions, visit our careers page.
HAS APPLE PLAYSCHOOLS APPLIED FOR ANY FINANCIAL AID FROM THE GOVERNMENT, LOANS, ETC.?
We have applied for and received both PPP and EIDL loans. These forgiveable or low-interest loans have been an essential resource for our schools and have sustained us through the reopening of our programs. We have also received essential funding through the state's Child Care Relief Fund Grant program, money that was earmarked in the CARES Act and distributed by the State of Michigan.
While these funds got us through the first school closure, we do not know what lies ahead. We are preparing to not just sustain our organization in the coming months, but to continue forward growth, movement, and improvement in the delivery of our mission. You can support our work by making a donation or starting your own fundraiser for our Survive + Thrive Campaign.
While these funds got us through the first school closure, we do not know what lies ahead. We are preparing to not just sustain our organization in the coming months, but to continue forward growth, movement, and improvement in the delivery of our mission. You can support our work by making a donation or starting your own fundraiser for our Survive + Thrive Campaign.
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