On May 12, 2023, I wrote to Red Balloon parents and staff about our plans for the space that has housed Red Balloon. The purpose of that letter was to provide “clarity but also a measure of reassurance that the core mission of Red Balloon – providing quality, affordable child care – along with many of the center’s features, will emerge not just intact, but stronger, sturdier.” The full text of my letter can be found here.
We have done much work since that letter, including productive discussions with the Red Balloon staff and board, in the hope of making the transition as smooth as possible. Here are some updates:
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We have provided financial assistance to a number of Red Balloon families to help defray increased tuition costs they may incur through June 2024 at an alternative early learning center.
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We have provided financial support to help Red Balloon cover its operating costs and provide continuing care for the children in its care through August 18, 2023, when Red Balloon will close. This support has helped Red Balloon to pay salaries and additional amounts to assist staff with the transition.
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We have issued a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) to identify a nonprofit organization that would be willing and able to operate an early learning center at 560 Riverside Drive consistent with the principles I spelled out in my May 12 letter. Those principles include a commitment to
- providing child care at affordable prices, comparable to current rates at Red Balloon;
- maintaining the same hours of operation as Red Balloon; and
- maintaining a teacher-student ratio that meets or exceeds all applicable licensing requirements and accreditation standards.
The center must also be open to pursuing certification for accepting ACS vouchers, and Columbia will encourage it to obtain such certification.
The RFEI document, a copy of which can be found here, makes clear that Columbia is looking for a non-profit mission-driven provider that will offer a high-quality program to meet the needs of our diverse community. As the document notes,
Columbia recognizes that child care and early education programs for young children are essential services for working parents and that children benefit from programs that offer a socioeconomic mix of children and staff, celebrate diversity, and build children's pride in their families and cultural heritage. To achieve these objectives, Columbia expects that a highly qualified, diverse staff will be recruited and retained, and that parents will be welcome observers and contributors to their child’s program.
The document also states that the space will be available rent-free.
As planning for the new center has continued, we have had ongoing, constructive discussions with members of the Red Balloon parent board and interested students. We expect those discussions to continue as the process unfolds.
Dennis A. Mitchell, DDS, MPH
Interim Provost
Professor of Dental Medicine at CUMC
