ROCHELLE — Parents and staff of the Kishwaukee Family YMCA Child Care Center in Rochelle will be looking for new avenues for daycare services and employment following the announcement that the center was closing indefinitely, effective Wednesday, Oct. 28.

In a meeting with staff members Wednesday, administration announced it will be indefinitely suspending care services effective Oct. 28. The Kishwaukee Family YMCA Board of Directors made the decision at a recent meeting.

“The country, state and local area has been dramatically impacted by COVID-19.  That is true for the YMCA Child Care Center since the pandemic hit. We saw increased staffing and supply costs in order to meet Illinois Department of Children & Family Services reopening requirements along with decreased enrollment numbers due to parents uncomfortable placing their child in the center due to possible exposure to COVID-19,” Kishwaukee Family YMCA CEO Mark Spiegelhoff said. “All these factors led to a significant negative financial impact on child care center operations. The sizable monthly operating losses were simply not sustainable for the YMCA to continue in this mode during the pandemic.” 

Center director Evaine Stahrr confirmed the indefinite closure Thursday morning.

“This decision did not come lightly, knowing the impact it will have on the working families of Rochelle that need center-based care,” Spiegelhoff said. “No future date to eventually reopen is being considered at this time.”

The center was serving 29 children, excluding children of employees, when the decision was made.