OCC Board Votes to Approve Layoffs at Children's Center - but we're not done yet

The Board Meeting on Monday ended with a vote to approve layoffs at the center, effectively also approving the downsizing of the center.  The vote was done in formality up against the looming end of fiscal year deadline to make many big decisions for next year's budget. I won't get in to the weeds too much about the formalities and timing of this decision, but there is still some time on our side before the fiscal deadline of June 30. 

An extremely talented group of parents have come up with a formal business plan that gets the Center out a financial deficit, with less reliance on OCC funds and QUICKLY. On the other hand, the plans proposed by the university administration continue to show a $300K plus deficit annually with the downsizing, not accounting for the emotional deficit and trauma they are imposing on all the affected families. The presentation basically negated any claims they've made about ridding of the deficit by cutting enrollment. So, here we are...

We are encouraging that the Board and administration give this plan a thorough review before their votes become irreversible come June 30; before hundreds of lives are negatively impacted.  We have also encouraged them to investigate fiscally unsound decisions made by administrators overseeing the Center.

We are not done. We will continue to fight for these kids and their futures.