SCENE THE
THE
Spring Issue 1
February 19, 2021
THESCENEFP.COM
www.thescenefp.com
Breaking barriers See pages 2-3
Life before COVID See page 4
St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
Child care coming to Forest Park Former center closed in 2010 By The Scene staff It’s been nearly 12 years since the St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees made the controversial decision to close the Forest Park child-care center to cut costs. Now the college is making plans to create a new center, thanks to a $4 million grant from the state of Missouri, using funds it received from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, better known as the CARES Act. “This will open up the door of opportunity to many who would like to enroll in classes, but who have not had accessible child care,” Forest Park President Julie Fickas stated in an STLCC news release. “With so many programs aligned with our community’s workforce needs, this is not only a win for our students, but for our
overall community.” The college plans to convert 15,000 square feet of space in the Physical Education Building into a child-care center. Renovations will eliminate the practice gym and offices and relocate the fitness center and weight room, according to STLCC spokeswoman Nez Savala. Part of a softball field will be converted into a playground. The child-care center will serve up to 60 children at any one time, primarily those of Forest Park students, Savala said. It’s expected to open in 12 to 18 months. Staff will include students majoring in early childhood education, allowing them to get hands-on experience. Programs and services will be modeled after those offered at the Child Development Laboratory Center on STLCC’s Florissant Valley campus. “We are grateful for receiving these funds that will help our students with children to enroll and complete a degree or a certificate that will prepare them for living-wage jobs or the chance to earn advanced degrees,” STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman stated in the news release.
Photos by Fred Ortlip
Finally, a winter wonderland An otherwise mild winter changed course in late January, when the St. Louis area got its first significant snowfall of the season, just before Mother Nature lowered the boom this month with bone-chilling cold and heavy snow in St. Louis and many other parts of the country. Above: A woman clears snow off her car outside of C Tower. Left: Housekeeping employee Jennifer Williams gets outdoor duty, clearing a path through falling snow between E and D towers.
The former Forest Park Children’s Center opened in 1995 so students, faculty and staff would have a place to leave their children while attending classes or working. Services were cheaper than those at private facilities. Many people were caught off guard on Nov. 19, 2009, when the STLCC board voted to follow an administrative recommendation and close child-care centers on the Forest Park and Meramec campuses, even though it wasn’t on the agenda. “In reviewing the overall operations of the college, and with more and more individuals seeking our services, we must put dollars toward initiatives that improve the learning outcomes and academic achievement of all our students, as well as those that address evolving workforce needs,” Trustee Joan Ordinachev explained at the time. The college was reportedly spending $600,000 a year subsidizing the Forest Park and Meramec child-care centers, including $53,400 to rent an off-campus building near Forest Park. They were serving the children of 209 students, faculty and staff in 2009. The Forest Park center closed on June 30, 2010. Housekeeping employees threw away Dumpsters full of games, toys, books and other items. The STLCC board decision was publicly criticized by center managers and parents whose children were enrolled. “The center is the only reason why I was able to change my personal situation and start school and complete my dream of becoming a lawyer,” said former student Daniella Yussupbek. “Personally, I consider this discrimination against single parents and low-income families. “Students were crying after hearing the speeches of each other’s personal stories of how their life goals and dreams will have to change as a result of closing the center.” Fast forward to 2021. The $4 million
Photo by Fred Ortlip
Vernisha Jones, 28, a second-semester nursing student at Forest Park, waits outside the admissions office with her daughter Zoe, who just turned 1.
is being granted to STLCC through the CARES Act Child Care Plan, which is part of Gov. Mike Parson’s initiative to fund improvements in the quality and availability of child care and early education programs. Specifically, funds are earmarked to help establish or expand on-campus child-care centers to support and strengthen access to safe child care for 20 or more children ages 6 weeks to 5 years from low-income families receiving child-care subsidies while parents work or pursue education or training, the news release stated.
Flo Valley gym is mass-vaccination site By The Scene staff St. Louis Community College is partnering with the St. Louis County Department of Public Health by allowing its Florissant Valley campus to be used as a COVID-19 mass-vaccination site. The gym has been converted into a temporary clinic. People can go to get shots if they’re eligible under Missouri guidelines, pre-registered with the health department and scheduled for an appointment. “With the vaccine, we can now talk about being on a pathway to eradicating the virus,” St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said at a news conference in late January, when he announced STLCC’s role in the campaign. “We also must engage in communities that are underrepresented to ensure everyone has access to vaccines, and that is our commitment in St. Louis County.” The state of Missouri is now vaccinating
people eligible under Phase 1A, including health care personnel and residents and staff of long-term care facilities; and Tier 1 and 2 of Phase 1B, including first responders, emergency service and public-works employees, anyone 65 and older and those with medical conditions that put them at high risk. The health department is making vaccination appointments whenever it receives vaccine supplies from the federal government, as distributed by the state of Missouri. For more information, call the St. Louis County COVID-19 hot line at 314-615-2660 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services at 877-435-8411 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; text STLOUISCOALERT to 67283; or send an email to dphcovidvaccine@ stlouisco.com.