The Westlock Child Care Society is on track to pay down its debt, is lowering its rates in the process and is upgrading its facility.
Society president Wyatt Glebe said after some difficulties over the past year, the board has paid down its six-figure debt and now has just $80,000 owing, and is on track to pay the principal down to zero in about 16 months.
Meanwhile, the society is maintaining all its required provincial certifications and continues to operate the daycare, after-school care and several day homes in Westlock, Athabasca and Thorhild, and has hired a new executive director.
“I think the child care society at its centre is headed down a very positive path,” he said.
It has been a tough year for the society; last summer the society approached the three local municipal councils looking for $200,000 in funding to help get its finances under control. At the time the society had an overdraft on its account of more than $100,000 and also had more than $100,000 in unpaid accounts.
Glebe said while the municipal councils ultimately authorized $20,000 over four months to go to the society, “no money ever changed hands.”
Instead following an independent audit of the society’s finances the board, which included new leadership this spring, made some changes and was able to get a plan in place to pay down the debt.
The society went to their financial institution and got the overdraft converted to a loan, and it has made changes with how fees are collected — Glebe said he expects the debt will be paid off by Christmas 2015.
He said the new board was also able to lower its rates for most clients, and is in the process of preparing a budget for the year — they can’t find any budget documents from previous years.
Former executive director Roxanne Gilmar, who headed up the organization for several years, submitted her resignation in January this year. She was charged with theft over $5,000 and fraud over $5,000 in June.
The board was aware there was a problem prior to charges being laid, but wasn’t able to say anything while the RCMP investigation was ongoing from early December until June when charges were laid.
“As for the specifics of the charges themselves, we can’t comment,” he said.
While the past year has provided some challenges for the society, the outlook is positive for the future.
Christine Villeneuve was hired as executive director in June, and has been settling into her role.
She has a degree from Athabasca University with a double major in sociology and psychology, has children in daycare and has experience with the governance side of things after sitting on the board of the Barrhead Daycare.
The staff, board, parents and kids have been great, and while sometimes people express concerns about what has happened with the society in the past her outlook it positive.
“I just want great programming from now until the end of time,” she said. “That’s my focus.”
The society currently operates the daycare itself, which can accommodate 75 children, as well as out-of-school programs at various locations throughout the community.
It also operates two day-homes in Westlock, one in Thorhild and six in Athabasca, all of which are overseen by the society to maintain provincial accreditation, and that in turn allows clients to access provincial subsidies if they qualify.
Glebe said all staff members and individual board members have gone the extra mile during the transition, and the organization itself has made changes in terms of fee structures, staff structure, reviewing expenses and cutting unnecessary services, creating accurate reports and adequate financial controls, and working with the Town of Westlock, which is the society’s landlord.
“The town has been very cooperative and very considerate; the society doesn’t pay rent,” he said, adding work is expected to begin this week on a new kitchen facility in the building.
Villeneuve said the society benefits from talented staff and volunteers giving their time, as well, and the door is always open for other who would like to apply either for a volunteer or paid position.
