Daycare Providers React to Executive Order Allowing Temporary Centers

On Thursday, Governor Pete Ricketts signed an executive order allowing non-profits in Nebraska to establish temporary daycare centers.

Academic Advantage Child Development Center runs three daycares in Lincoln. The business' owners would like more guidance on how long it’s safe to operate. While they're currently running with under 10 kids in each room, co-owner Kirsten Mann said it’s difficult to keep young children six feet apart, as they may not understand the global pandemic.

Plus, only about half of the kids who usually attend AACDC have been coming on schedule, and about 60 families have unenrolled. She and her colleagues were surprised by Ricketts’ executive order permitted new temporary daycares to open due to the pandemic.

“And I know that the governor was concerned about limiting to us to the 10 kid size, but the new executive order that allows for temporary daycares, we were surprised by, because most centers in Lincoln are running with openings right now ‘cause so many families are choosing to stay home,” McMan said.

“We have healthcare provider families that have even chosen to stay home because they have family available to watch them and they feel like that is the better option for their kid.”

Providers at AACDC are also bothered by idea that temporary centers may not be asked to follow the same regulations as permanent daycare centers.