Council debates future of Sherman day care center Save Email Print
Posted: 9:42 AM Aug 19, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:42 AM Aug 19, 2008
 Reporter: Rashi Vats
Email Address: rashi.vats@kxii.com
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SHERMAN, Tex. --The first public hearing for the community to speak out about the Sherman Day Care Center was held Monday evening.

"You remember tragic things in your life, and the last thing you want to remember tragic in Sherman, Texas, is when they close down the only daycare that really loves these children," said concerned parent, Rick Sommers.

Monday night's meeting was packed with center supporters afraid the council's original decision to shut the center down would become a reality.

"I started a petition and we've turned in over 800 signatures to let them know that the people in this community are concerned and we came here tonight in multitudes to express our concerns, said Laqueta Wilson, whose children go to Sherman Day Care.

"I am really ashamed and I am really upset with the decisions our city council are making."

Decisions about the future of the daycare center are still pending. Sherman Mayor Bill Magers and others are looking at possible alternatives as council members are still reviewing the facility.

"For many years we've had a high quality service that folks really want to continue, and I think the solution of the City Manager to partner with a nonprofit to provide those services at the same location is a win for the tax payers and a win for the residents that use these services," said Magers.

Administrators say it costs around $620,000 to run the daycare center, $300,000 of which is paid for by city funding, and the rest is covered by fees by parents like Laqueta Wilson.

"We've expressed our feelings, and we've expressed our emotions, and I hope they take it into consideration," said Wilson.

The council says they will review the different options on child care and expect to have a decision in the next couple of weeks.

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Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 22, 2008 at 04:22 PM
screaming? who's screaming?
Posted by: Fozzy Location: Ardmore on Aug 22, 2008 at 11:56 AM
CAPS LOCK MUCH? QUIT SCREAMING!!! The fact is that people treat their children like some sort of effect of sex rather than someone worth anything. If you have children and you have to place them in a kiddie kennel every day.. why did you have them in the first place?
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Sherman on Aug 21, 2008 at 08:32 PM
DO YOU PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTAND THESE PEOPLE THAT USE THE DAYCARE DO WORK. JUST LIKE YOU AND ME THEY ALSO PAY FOR PART OF THEIR DAY CARE IT IS NOT FREE!!!!!! THEY WORK AND SOME DO BOTH GO TO SCHOOL AND WORK!!!!!!
Posted by: JO Location: Sherman on Aug 21, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Wow! It is only ONE percent of the budget that is being cut if the city of sherman closed the daycare. The city is not empowering those with the most needs in our community. Sad, very sad. I will never vote for none of the current city councilors; too bad that I can not do the same for the city manager, is obvious he is not competent.
Posted by: person paying for your kids Location: sherman on Aug 21, 2008 at 06:32 PM
I AGREE WITH ALOT OF THE COMMENTS POSTED ON HERE. IF YOU CANT PAY FOR THEM, DONT HAVE EM. I STRUGGLE EVERYDAY JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEAT BUT YOU WONT SEE ME AT THE WELFARE OFFICE WITH MY HAND OUT, THATS WHAT A J-O-B IS FOR. THOSE OF YOU WHO DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ITS WHERE YOU GO ON A DAILY BASIS DO YOUR DAYS WORK AND AT THE END OF THE WEEK YOU GET PAID FOR IT. ALL THESE PEOPLE RELYING ON THIS DAYCARE MIGHT AS WELL BE DROPPING THIER KIDS OFF AT THE TAX PAYERS HOUSE THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING ELSE FOR THEM. GOES BACK TO DONT LOOK AT ME LIKE YOUR MOMMA DONT FEED YOU I KNOW SHE DOES BECAUSE IM BUYING THE GROCERIES. I HOPE THEY CLOSE THIS DAYCARE DOWN. IM TIRED OF PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVING THIER HAND OUT, HOW BOUT YOU PEOPLE NOT WORKING AND LIVING OFF THE GOVERMENT GET UP OFF THE COUCH GET A JOB.
Posted by: Sally Location: Manutau on Aug 21, 2008 at 06:20 PM
I cannot understand how Sherman city leaders can be so heartless and shortsighted. Yes it will cost money to help these kids but think of the return on the investment. Fewer police and fewer jail cells because somebody was forward thinking enough to help these kids whose parents need a hand up. Also, most of the taxes collected are from sales from folks that visit the city not the locals. I hope people can see beyond the immediate satisfaction of telling poor folks to get a job.
Posted by: watch em steal Location: Sherman on Aug 21, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Building one big ol bar would suit Bill Magers and Joe Smith just fine. That's what they're used to.
Posted by: Fozzy Location: Ardmore on Aug 21, 2008 at 12:51 PM
You breed em.. you feed em! I know that's a strange concept.
Posted by: from bubba redneck to bubba redneck Location: sherman on Aug 21, 2008 at 08:30 AM
ok lets get rid of all of it...problem solved..now we can use all that tax surplus to build one big ole bar it would be used more than any of the other places...i can always use a new place to go drink and smoke and then drive home...
Posted by: Jack Location: grayson county on Aug 20, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Why don't you get the Sherman School District to take it over and it can be with the other unmandated programs.
Posted by: Not your momma on Aug 20, 2008 at 09:57 PM
And by the way, to all the people that want to turn this into an anti-hispanic or west Sherman vs east Sherman thing, I say you’re an idiot. It is a Tax money going to something that is not necessary thing. We need to better fund the Fire Department and Police Department. We need to have streets fixed and better public services. Look, if you want to cry about Hispanics, then cry. Here is the thing. If they are here illegally, then they should be deported and return legally. They violated the laws of this Country and by their mere presence, they are breaking the law. They are not entitled to any benefits. If they had done it right, then they would be paying taxes and using their own social security number so they could reap the rewards of their labors. To the East vs West crowd, I have lived on both sides of town. Where I grew up we had nothing. For one Christmas I got a re-built bicycle from a junk yard my father (who was never in jail) pieced together and painted. He worked all the overtime he could get to advance and make more money to support us without Government assistance. It is not about rich snobs on the West side. It is about every tax payer paying for a few on a program that could be funded differently. The last time I checked there was no guards at the splash zone or at the new park on the west side checking your water bill to see if you belong. If the daycare is so well funded the same way as public schools, then maybe they should work to get fully funded by grants or state/federal funding.
Posted by: Not your momma on Aug 20, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Once again, I have no problem with people who are in need and get a little hand up for a short period. I do have a problem with people who have no ambition to make themselves better and get off Government assistance, get out of my wallet. I see many people who would rather sit on their backside and drink at 10 am and watch cable TV while we all work. They wont get a job cause they make more money sitting on their duff then they could if the went to work. Well that may be true if your highest ambition is a part time job or making minimum wage. How about get two jobs and work your way off the bottom till you make enough to not work two jobs. How about use some of my money to get an education and then get a good job. Well it is easier to sit and smoke $4.45 a pack and drink cold beer every night and gosh forbid you make a meal instead of Taco Bell every night. If I see one more toddler drinking Coke-a-cola out of a bottle or sippy cup, I’m gonna scream. Anyway, my point is that some people get down on their luck and need a little help. The difference is a few have enough self dignity and respect to try and get up and provide for themselves.
Posted by: Sally Location: Mantua on Aug 20, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Why are Sherman folks so bitter? Maybe because the city has turned into a poor place to raise a family, the wages are low, the school is underperforming and the city is dumping on the most needy. There was a time Sherman was really a great place to live and raise a family. It is a sad state of affairs that the city has become second rate in every detail from city services to education. Time to load up for McKinney!
Posted by: taxpayer Location: sherman on Aug 20, 2008 at 08:31 PM
no one who opposed was there because they all had to work. to pay for the have nots kids to go to school.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 20, 2008 at 07:35 PM
We were working!!!!! 5 p.m. is NOT a good time for the City council to meet, most of us we are just getting out of work! Ridiculous.!
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 20, 2008 at 04:02 PM
How come all the ones that are against the daycare staying open were't at the meeting on Monday night when it was the time for the public to speak about the daycare. if you are that upset about you should of been there to speak. You have lots to say when no one can see you but you are running scared when it comes down to being in front of the daycare parents and the employees to speak your mind. No one was there to oppose the day care.
Posted by: Still confused on Aug 20, 2008 at 03:09 PM
If these parents are on the CCMS program, and can choose another daycare, why does the city-funded one need to stay open? As for Anonymous at 5:49p, there are more than 3 other daycares in Sherman. CCMS parents can go to www.txchildcaresearch.org and they can contact any licensed center, licensed home, or registered homes. There are plenty of options for Sherman and I'm sure there are not waiting lists for them all.
Posted by: Thelma Location: Sherman on Aug 20, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Yes Mayor Magers owns one of the Montessori schools here in Sherman. He also makes money hand over fist with it. He wants to charge $560 a month for an 18 month old and he doesn't even provide the kids with lunch. He told us that his school isn't a food service industry...Well neither is the school we chose to send our son to and they provide lunch like ALL other schools do. Magers is a jerk.
Posted by: Self Sustaining Location: Sherman on Aug 20, 2008 at 10:02 AM
It is not, nor should it ever be, MY burden to raise YOUR kids. For those that are crying about the "haves" taking away from the "have nots", you are showing just what a leech on society that you are. In case you hadn't noticed, it is the "have nots" who are demanding money from the "haves" to pay for their childcare. I'm sorry that you made poor decisions in your life, but it is not my responsibility to remedy your mistakes. I have trouble feeling any pity for people who live in govt. subsidized RENTAL property where they pay no property taxes, feed their children on food bought with govt. funded WIC and Lonestar cards, and then cry about the injustice of the city cutting taxpayer funding to a daycare that still receives taxpayer funding from the FEDERAL GOVT.
Posted by: sherman Location: sherman on Aug 20, 2008 at 09:24 AM
and 200,000 split between us is a great thing too. <>> (shake hands with the people)
Posted by: Taxpayer Location: Sherman on Aug 20, 2008 at 05:57 AM
I HAVE AN IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why don't the parents of these kids at the daycare figure out what to do with their kids. In most cases, I'll bet were already feeding, clothing, housing, and apparently that isn't enough, you want to just drop them off, and expect the taxpayer to watch them.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 10:04 PM
it is not as if the council is eliminating daycare for low income sherman families. there are other options besides sherman tax $'s subsidizing this daycare facility. non-profit daycares use other funding besides sherman tax $'S AND can be affordable to those who need assistance in paying for childcare. it seems as if there is a misunderstanding, if the council chooses not to continue funding sherman daycare center with tax $'s, there will be comparable daycare available. if the childcare providers are as awesome as customers claim, they could easily find jobs with the new non-profit daycare. city of sherman needs to focus on the growth and development of the city, not running a daycare.
Posted by: informed Location: sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 09:47 PM
it is my
Posted by: Sally Location: Mantua on Aug 19, 2008 at 06:09 PM
All that our citizens have to do to let it be destroyed is continue to be silent while the haves take away from the have nots. Who will clean their houses and mow their lawns when the have nots move from Sherman. This is a very sad day for Sherman. The west side gets their parks and trails and the east side poor get kicked in the face
Posted by: Anonymous Location: sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 05:49 PM
Everyone that goes to the Sherman Day care goes to school or works or does both. They do go thru ccs and they have to show proof to them that they work or they are going to school. They have to show check stubs and have to have a paper signed by there boss stating how many hours they are working,and they have to do this twice a year. And yes it is true Bill Magers owns the Montessori over on Cottonwood off of Loy Lake Road. The parents know that there is other daycares that take ccs and that is the problem. Some of them have been at these other daycares, and they have had some bad things happen to their children and they don't want to take them back there.Besides the sherman daycare there are only 3 other daycares in Sherman and they have waiting list already for kids to get into them. The 200,000 needed to run the daycare is only 1% od the budget.
Posted by: Taxpayer Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:55 PM
I understand that inflation is on the rise, cost of living is going up, so on and so on. But I don't see anybody willing to help me when times are tough. You see, like many others, I work hard for a living and don't get a fraction of the help that people get when the work a low paying job and claim to 'better' themselves by going to school. As long as there is welfare, free daycare, free healthcare, foodstamps, ect, You will never better yourself. That is the way you were raised and the way you'll raise your children. P.S. Don't have kids if you can't afford to care for them. For god sake either make him wear a condom or get on the pill. It is not our responsibility as property owners to flip the bill for you being a worthless parent. I hope the city SHUTS this place down and the government stops the food stamp program and instead of you pointing the finger at us for not flipping the bill, we can point the finger at you for being a worthless parent. End the cycle,Start doin for yourself
Posted by: Outrage citizen Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:46 PM
To Anonymous at 4:14p.m., your comments are so stupid that I wonder if you are in fact a member of the Westside Sherman city councilors. If some of those families are “not legally able to work” as you mentioned, then why have you not done something about it? Is your message that now we have a Day Care full of “not legally” individuals therefore is okay to closed the day-care for that reason?
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:14 PM
These parents are still on the CCMS program and will not have an increase in the cost of their daycare unless they choose a very expensive one. I'm afraid I don't understand why there is such concern about this. There is funding available for low-income families needing assistance with childcare outside of Sherman Daycare. Something that might want to be questioned is why tax payer money goes to support some of these families needing assistance when some that have come through that center are not legally able to work.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Is that true? That Sherman-Mayor Bill Magers owns a Day Care?
Posted by: Anonymous Location: sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Bubba redneck 800 on a petition is good because you have to be a registered voter to sign the petition. The population of the city has nothing to do with it. Probably half of the population is under the age of eighteen. yes the daycare consist of children but IT IS THE STAFF THAT MAKES UP THE SHERMAN DAYCARE and they love the children as if they are their own.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:00 PM
I had heard that there is a petition for a recall election on the mayor and the deputy mayor does anyone know about this and who to contact about this or is there any interest in doing this.
Posted by: To Bubba Redneck Location: in Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:46 PM
To apply your logic, the City could shut down a lot of things. Like all the parks that 5 percent of the people use 1 percent of the time, or the youth center, or the library, or the MLK/Glennie O Ham center, or the museum, or the Senior Citizen's center......and so on.....We are surrounded by taxpayer funded entities that exist to serve the needs of a few. Quality daycare for low income children is more important than another walking trail for the west Sherman snobs. All those trails eat up tons of money to maintain, mow, and keep lighted. How many ordinary citizens are on the council any more? You see the results.
Posted by: tax payer Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:34 PM
NO, it is NOT the responsibility of a city to provide a public daycare. That's why Sherman is the only city in Texas doing so, they don't manage the tax monies they way they should, and that is for the benefit of the majority of people. There are many, many qualified daycares these families could utilize. Instead, the city uses the tax money from 40,000 people for the benefit of 40 families. Sorry, but his isn't proper management of tax money. TAX MONEY SHOULD SERVE THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION - NOT A HANDFUL OF FAMILIES.
Posted by: Jake Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:31 PM
There are already programs out there that people who need assistance with daycare can use. It is not the responsibility of the Sherman taxpayers to be acting as a welfare program. The parents and children will still get assistance it just wont be from tax payers getting double tapped. Hope the city coucil and mayor stick by their original decision!
Posted by: sherman Location: sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 01:46 PM
A couple of the guys on the council are looking for ways to pocket 200,000.
Posted by: Ann Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Sherman Mayor Bill Magers own a Day-Care. Does he want or need more business for his own profit? Could this be a reason why his friend, the city administrator Olson, is trying to closed the Sherman Day Care Center? I wonder....
Posted by: Mother of 3 in private day-care Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Is not about if the parents are working or not, is about a service that is and will be available to any citizen of Sherman that is down or may be in the future down on their luck. It is a city responsibility to offer these types of services, like meals on wheals, day care, etc. If the city of Sherman administration is not able to allocate the money/revenues to the right community projects, then is my sincere opinion that they (council/administration) need to be removed from office. Is uncharacteristic of a city administration to put priorities on shopping centers rather than a much need it public services. WE ALL have/has been affected in some way or matter by the hard economic times that our country is encounter at this time. If in a near future my income /finances are affected by the high cost of living, I want to make sure that I can count on my city to help me by providing me with an affordable day care to take my children to it, not a shopping center like the council's TownCenter
Posted by: Tammy Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 01:13 PM
My daughter goes to this daycare. I work & go to school full-time. This is not a daycare in my eyes but more of a school that is affordable. That is due to federal grants that are only granted to governments like the city. If a non-profit comes in funding will not be granted, pay for employees will significantly decrease, and employees will leave for better paying jobs w/benefits. Some of the non-profits talked about have numerous violations. City of Sherman daycare has NONE!!! The women who work there are like family to my daughter. She runs to them, hugs them, and tells them she loves them. If a non-profit comes they can ONLY afford to pay minimum wage and that will lead to a hugh turn around rate in employees. I DO NOT WANT MY DAUGHTER CARED FOR BY AN 18-20 YEAR OLD!!! I have friends that have worked for daycares that have witnessed abuse and neglect. Would you want your child in that environment???
Posted by: Thelma Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 01:05 PM
"The only daycare that really loves these children"?? Really? I was pretty convinced that the daycare I use loves my children as well. That daycare isn't the only one in Sherman ya know.
Posted by: bubba redneck Location: sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 12:59 PM
ok read closly...800 is not a high percentage when you add in the "Whole TAX PAYING population of sherman" NOT just the voting people..since the tax payer is the one who foots the bill..in 2000 the population of Sherman,txs was aprox. 35,082 not including the mexicans(because they don't pay taxes..lol),,so in looking at this 800 signatures is only aprox 2% of the total population of sherman and that"s from the total back in the year 2000...i;m sure ther are over 40,000 people in sherman by now and 800 wouldn't even make up 1% of the population..so yes i believe the tax payers of sherman have spoken to this issue..and the answere was ....see ya on down the road..
Posted by: Concerned Voter Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I agree that 800 is a lot of signatures and I hope that all 800 signers vote in all the upcoming elections until we have a new mayor and city council because "To Bubba" at 10:58 is right, 800 is more than vote sometimes and is certainly enough to turn the outcome of most of our local elections. I, too, do not qualify for the services but am appalled at the choices made when I drive by the bicycle park or the water parks. Could they have done with a ramp/slide or 2 less to change the life of just one child, much less the number served by the center?
Posted by: sandy on Aug 19, 2008 at 11:27 AM
The question is not if the center helps those down on their luck. It does. The question is not do the workers love the kids. They do. The question IS how is the daycare to exist? Why can't the center work as a non-profit? It is a valid question and one that the daycare director should address before creating petitions and villifying the city council and the mayor.
Posted by: To Bubba Redneck Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 10:58 AM
"ONLY" 800 signatures? Thats almost as many people as VOTE in some of our city elections!! 800 signatures is actually a LOT. I was astounded to see that they had that many. I've heard of petitions with fewer signatures than that from the soccer families wanting newer and bigger facilities. (And we see where our city council stands, priority-wise, with our parks these days). And, no, I don't or have I ever used the day care. I couldn't qualify ;-)
Posted by: bubba redneck Location: sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 10:42 AM
only 800 signatures??/that doesn't sound like very many signatures to try and keep this place open...when you add in the total population of sherman this can't be a very high percentage...guess the people of sherman have spoken to this issue..
Posted by: Concerned Voter Location: Sherman on Aug 19, 2008 at 09:50 AM
I think that folks aren't really reading this or the information in the paper carefully. These parents DO work, and some also attend school. This service is provided for the low-income families (mostly minimum wage) and these families DO pay a fee based on a percentage of their income. It is subsidized daycare, and only part of it comes from the city coffers. Federal and state funding is helping as well. We are blessed that the center is able to pay better than minimum wage to these tireless workers, most daycares only pay minimum wage. There are probably even many workers at the councils' precious Town Center that qualify and may use these services because retail jobs aren't high paying. Places such as these are not made for those often perceived as "on the government dole", they are intended to support those trying to get on their feet and build a better life. Allowing these parents to pick up more of the costs as their income/situation improves. Remember this when you vote.
Posted by: what's up Location: sherman on Aug 18, 2008 at 11:03 PM
I have to ask the question, do the parents actually work? I'm talking about the ones that drop their kids off to this daycare. If so, why can't they pay some money? OR Is this another way to have someone else pay for the child's upbringing? If so, it may be the best for the city to continue raising them keyudds.
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