Nearly 30 Years of Caring for Our Children. Don’t Let This Community Treasure Disappear.

To the Sussex Tech Administration and Board Members:
We, the undersigned parents, families, employees, and members of the surrounding community, respectfully ask the Sussex Tech Board to reconsider the decision to terminate the lease for Kristin’s Care Inc. Early Learning Center (ELC) and allow this valued partnership to continue.

For nearly 30 years, Kristin’s Care has provided quality childcare, early education, love, and nurturing to thousands of children and families throughout Sussex County. The center has become much more than a childcare facility. It is an important part of our community, a trusted resource for working parents, and a meaningful partner in providing educational and career opportunities for Sussex Tech students.

The potential closure of this facility would have a significant impact on our community, displacing nearly 50 children and affecting the 15 early childhood professionals employed by the center. It would also leave families scrambling to find alternative childcare, including families who have already paid deposits and are expecting to enroll their infants and children in the upcoming school year.

The impact reaches far beyond childcare
Kristin’s Care provides benefits that extend throughout Sussex Tech and the surrounding community:

·    A longstanding community resource: Nearly 30 years of providing childcare and early learning opportunities to thousands of children and families.

·    Support for Sussex Tech families and staff: Prioritizing enrollment for Sussex Tech students, teachers, and staff, while providing flexibility for teachers to take the summer off and return in the fall.

·    Support for surrounding school districts: Prioritizing teachers and working families throughout neighboring school districts.

·    Educational partnerships: Maintaining an open-door policy that allows Sussex Tech students and teachers to visit and interact with the children throughout the school day, creating meaningful connections and experiences.

·    Career development opportunities: Employing nine Sussex Tech graduates and students and providing hands-on training, mentorship, and guidance to students interested in pursuing careers in early childhood education.

·    Work-Based Learning opportunities: Providing valuable hands-on learning experiences for students, including those who may face transportation barriers that otherwise limit access to employment and career training.

·    Support for local employers and organizations: Serving families and employees connected to organizations such as DNREC and Delaware Technical Community College, in addition to other members of the surrounding community.

·    Peace of mind for families: Providing a trusted childcare environment licensed through Delaware’s Office of Child Care Licensing.

The partnership between Kristin’s Care and Sussex Tech is something special. The children benefit from being surrounded by an educational environment, while Sussex Tech students and staff could build relationships with the children and gain meaningful experiences. These connections are evident in everyday interactions, school events, and special moments, such as the annual Halloween parade, when students and teachers line the hallways to welcome the children with smiles, waves, and excitement.

These are the types of experiences that make this partnership unique and valuable. It creates a sense of community, belonging, and connection that cannot simply be replaced by relocating a childcare business.

We understand that decisions involving facilities, leases, and school resources require consideration. However, we respectfully ask that the Board recognize the broader impact of this decision and consider the many children, families, employees, students, and community members who depend on this facility.

Nearly 30 years of service, thousands of children served, meaningful educational partnerships, and countless family relationships should not be reduced to a commercial lease agreement.

We ask the Sussex Tech Board to reconsider the proposed lease termination, explore alternatives that would allow Kristin’s Care to remain at its current location, and work collaboratively toward a solution that benefits both Sussex Tech and the community it serves.

Please consider the families who depend on this childcare, the children who call this place their second home, the employees who dedicate their time and careers to these children, and the students who benefit from the opportunities this partnership provides.

HELP US KEEP KRISTIN’S CARE INC. EARLY LEARNING CENTER AT SUSSEX TECH.

We respectfully request that the Board vote against terminating the lease and support keeping Kristin’s Care at Sussex Tech.

PLEASE SHARE, SPEAK UP, AND HELP US KEEP KRISTIN’S CARE OPEN!
We are asking our community—not just parents and families currently enrolled—to stand with us. Please take a moment to sign this petition, share it with your family and friends, and post it on your social media pages. Send it to coworkers, local businesses, community groups, and anyone who believes children and families deserve access to dependable, quality childcare. Every signature, share, comment, and conversation helps make our voices stronger.

We are sincerely asking for your help. Please don’t scroll past or assume someone else will take action. Nearly 50 children, their families, 15 dedicated early childhood professionals, and a community built over nearly 30 years are counting on people to speak up. If Kristin’s Care has touched your family or you believe this center deserves the opportunity to remain at Sussex Tech, please stand with us. Together, we can show the Board just how much this center means to our community.

SIGN THE PETITION. SHARE THE MESSAGE. HELP KEEP KRISTIN’S CARE OPEN!

By signing this petition, I express my support for keeping Kristin’s Care Inc. Early Learning Center at Sussex Tech. I recognize the importance of this facility to local children, families, employees, students, and the surrounding community. I respectfully ask the Sussex Tech Board to reconsider the proposed lease termination and work toward keeping this valuable childcare center open at its current location. Show Your Support — Sign the Petition