Ocracoke Child Opens for Season
Spring hours for the non-profit daycare center, which opened yesterday after being closed since August 2015, will be Monday–Friday, 7:45am–3pm. The OCC board plans for the center to be open seasonally, and close for the winter in September or October.
At a recent community meeting, the board introduced the new director, DeAnna Locke, who also happens to be a former director from 2002–2004.
"She is imminently qualified," said OCC board treasurer Bob Kremser. "We are quite confident in her abilities. Hiring DeAnna was a major accomplishment."
DeAnna follows Chaeli Moyer, who joined the OCC team in 2014, but recently resigned from the director position because her personal life is taking her off the island.
"Chaeli organized the records, and made huge improvements," Bob said, as the board members and parents applauded her efforts. Over the past two years, OCC has also used fundraising and Occupancy Tax grants for repairs to the building including new sub-flooring, safety access, and a new baby room.
OCC could extend hours later in the season, if enrollment increases. (20 kids is the break-even number for them to stay open until 5pm.) Summer evening hours and a day-program for school-age kids is also a possibility, if enough families sign up.
For now, OCC is enrolling children and hiring teachers, and DeAnna is happy to be back.
"We need this childcare center, and I'm very excited to be a part of making sure this service continues to be available to our community," DeAnna said.
Show your support for Ocracoke Child Care by cooking or eating (or both!) at the Clam Chowder Cook-Off this Saturday.
The Cook-Off is open 11:30am - 1:30pm. In addition to the clam chowder, there will be hot dogs, beverages, and a bake sale. OCC T-shirts and hoodies will also be available. Tickets to taste and judge the chowder are $10.
