Parents and teachers urge David Douglas board to reverse 5‑day requirement and registration fee changes at North Powellhurst childcare center

Parents, teachers and daycare users addressed the David Douglas School Board on May 8 to protest changes at the North Powellhurst Child Development Center that they say will price many families out of the program.

Multiple speakers described a newly instituted 5‑day‑a‑week minimum attendance requirement, a change from the center’s longtime two‑day minimum, and a nonrefundable $100 per‑child registration fee. "For over 20 years, the center has offered flexibility with a minimum 2 day per week enrollment," said Reluca Cook, who identified herself as a teacher in the district and a parent with children enrolled at North Powellhurst. "Now with the new requirement mandating 5 days a week, many of us are being priced out of the very center we trust and love."

Speakers said families paid the registration fee without being told the new tuition rates. "We were asked to commit and pay a non‑refundable $100 per child without being told what the tuition would be," said Julia Toscano, an educator and parent. Toscano told the board she was "already $200 in" with two children registered, and that she feared a tuition increase larger than the district employee raise would force her to change childcare plans despite long waitlists at other centers.

Parents cited rumors that daily rates could rise from about $70–$65 per day (current infant/toddler rates cited by speakers) to $100 per day, and one commenter estimated the monthly cost for two children on a five‑day schedule could approach $4,000 at the rumored rate. Speakers repeatedly noted that more than 70% of center families are district employees, and many pressed the board to align any tuition increase with negotiated wage increases for staff. "Next year, we're receiving a 3% raise. So I'm asking respectfully that any tuition increase not exceed that same 3%," Toscano said.

Other parents asked for longer notice if rates must change. Several speakers requested at least 10 months’ notice so families could find alternate care — a timeframe they said reflected typical wait lists for other programs. "If the increase is more than we can afford, I'll have no choice but to move Rafael to a different daycare," Toscano said, calling the late notice "unreasonable."

Board members accepted the testimony during the public comment period; no formal action or motion on childcare policy or fees was recorded at the May 8 meeting. Testimony highlighted a need for clearer communication from district childcare administrators and called for the board and district staff to consider the district‑employee workforce and long wait lists when setting attendance and pricing policy.

Several parents also contrasted North Powellhurst’s proposed changes to neighboring districts, citing a Gresham center with daily rates of $55–$57 and no planned increases.

Board members acknowledged the testimony and said they would consider the concerns during upcoming budget and policy discussions; the transcript contains no direction to immediately change the center’s requirements or fees.

Speakers asked for transparency about final tuition figures and earlier notice for families before registration payments are required.