The Northern Dutchess Daycare has been around for 50 years now. On September 10th, a week into the school year, all families received an email from the Board of Directors stating that the daycare would close its doors on December 31st. They came to their decision to shut down the daycare because of funding issues; believing that it wasn’t feasible to keep operating. This caused concern around the entire daycare community. From parents not knowing what to do with their kids to teachers having to find a new job, the news was devastating to many locals.
Northern Dutchess Daycare is safe space for parents to send their children to be at ease when they’re at work. People can pass by the daycare knowing their children are protected and cared for. Parents and their kids have come from all different places to attend the daycare from Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Kingston, Poughkeepsie and other local towns. Children that go to the daycare have been taken care of by many different teachers and directors over the years. The most recent and current director of the daycare is Priscilla Gideon.
Priscilla Gideon was hired 7 years ago, and ever since she has been dedicated to improving the daycare. When asked how she felt about finding out that daycare would close this year Gideon said, “It was really a shock and a complete surprise.”
She also noted her concern about finding a new job to support her family. The biggest thing Priscilla is doing to keep the daycare afloat is increasing the enrollment of younger children. She states that, “We are looking to expand our care, for younger than 18 months.” By doing this, the Board of Directors may see that the daycare is viable. Gideon also talks about how her certification as a nature teacher has helped change the daycare in positive ways. She shares how making the daycare unique included turning it into more of a nature school.
Besides Priscilla Gideon, many others have strong feelings towards the announced closing of Northern Dutchess Daycare too. New teacher at Rhinebeck High School and parent to the Northern Dutchess Daycare, Jennifer Nelson, had a lot to say when being interviewed on how she felt about the whole situation. Mrs. Nelson has spoken about her concern with this topic in a meaningful way. Even as a new resident to Rhinebeck High School and parent of the daycare, this immediate shutdown hurts her emotionally as she experienced a similar situation at her last daycare. Mrs. Nelson said, “I felt surprised a when it was announced it was within the first week of my daughter arriving at the school. And so my first thought was that it seemed pretty jarring to get that news.”
However, after finding out that the daycare would now stay open until the end of June, due to the efforts of Gideon, Nelson and others working with the board of directors, Nelson states she “Felt relieved.” She just wants what’s best for her child. For their family, that is Northern Dutchess Daycare. Knowing her daughter is in a safe place she trusts and doesn’t have to worry is what makes Nelson feel secure in her ability to go to work everyday.
Given all of the information, one can see how shutting down the daycare will hurt the community; it’s not right to shut it down midyear before seeking supportive funding sources, like grants and direct contributions. With the extended “deadline” of June 30th, Gideon and others focus on what is needed to keep NDDCC doors open into the 2025-26 school year.
Decisions to close local daycares have to be discussed more and thought out. Key steps to keep the daycare open past June include increasing the enrollment of children in the daycare more than ever. Priscilla and the rest of the people working at the daycare have started fundraisers and made a GoFundMe. If you can support this cause – Go donate.
The children love NDDCC because they want to see their friends, or maybe their favorite teacher. Maybe they just want to see Priscilla, which many of the kids do. They love everything she does. Her humor, her character, the way that she acts with these children makes them not want to leave. This daycare has the potential for another 50 year impact.
