USF Sarasota-Manatee teams with Sarasota Family YMCA to provide Campus Kids Preschool program 

SARASOTA, FL (December 11, 2006) – As part of its commitment to providing educational resources to the Sarasota-Manatee region, USF Sarasota-Manatee announced today that it will offer childcare services to USF students and employees beginning in the Spring 2007 semester.

 “Campus Kids Preschool accommodates the busy schedules and responsibilities of working parents” said Pam Doerr, associate vice president of student services at USF Sarasota-Manatee.  “When we designed the new campus, we decided to include a high-quality facility where young children can be cared for while parents are expanding their own career opportunities.” 

USF is partnering with the Sarasota Family YMCA to provide childcare services in The Lloyd Williams Child Care Center on the new USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. “The YMCA’s dedication to lifelong learning parallels the mission of USF Sarasota-Manatee,” explained Doerr.  “We went to a local organization that has a proven track record of providing top-notch services and educational programs for young children. This is an example of the ways in which we are part of our community.” 

“Between both institutions, we are creating a continuum of learning that extends from early childhood through adulthood,” added Doerr. 

Campus Kids Preschool will be managed by Claudia Malecki, who holds a B.A. in Social Welfare, a teaching certificate, and a Florida Director’s Credential with more than 20 years of experience in early education. 

Malecki is excited about the new program at USF Sarasota-Manatee.  

“When children enjoy coming to preschool, it creates a sense of comfort for employees and students who can then concentrate on their work because they know their children are receiving high quality care,” said Malecki. 

She added that the on-site childcare model also means that parents can stop by throughout the day to visit their children, read to the class and join in on special occasions. 

The Campus Kids Preschool will be licensed by the Department of Children and Families to accommodate 29 children ages 2 ½ to 5 years at any given time. A teacher-to-child ratio of 1:10 exceeds those required by Florida state law.

 In addition to fulltime enrollment, part-time childcare options were also created -- to be consistent with class schedules at USF Sarasota-Manatee. Operating hours for the childcare program will be 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM from Monday through Friday.  

The Lloyd Williams Child Care Center is named for the late founder of Bruce Williams Homes, a large donor to USF Sarasota-Manatee’s new campus center.  Lloyd Williams Jr. died in 2004, but his legacy of community support, including support of USF Sarasota-Manatee, lives on through his family. 

The Campus Kids Preschool will open in January 2007. For more information, contact Claudia Malecki at 941-952-9524 x1052. 

USF Sarasota-Manatee is an upper-level campus for those with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree who are interested in earning a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification or continuing education credit. The regional campus offers the prestige of a national Research I university with the convenience of a hometown campus, including classes in south Sarasota County at MCC Venice. For more information, visit www.sarasota.usf.edu/daycare.