A Marine gunnery sergeant is questioning why parents have to pay for child care at child development centers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for the days the centers were closed during Hurricane Florence.

Although it’s not a big deal financially for his dual-military family, he said, “I know there are a lot of junior ranking people who aren’t in a position to complain about this. ... And financially, aren’t established as some of us older guys. I’m complaining on their behalf.

“I think it’s an unfair policy,” said the gunnery sergeant, who asked to remain anonymous. He said his older daughter goes to a day care in the civilian community, which also was closed.

But its policy was different.

The civilian day care center “called us and said they weren’t running the credit card, and weren’t expecting payment,” for the time they were closed, he said.

On the other hand, he calculates that if he prorates the nine days when his son wasn’t in the child development center on base because of their evacuation and the center’s closure, it would be about $200.

“That’s what I paid for no services,” he said.

A number of people are waiting on insurance claims for leaks, flooding, roofing issues and other problems, he said, and some are still in county shelters because their homes are uninhabitable.

“So for [child care officials] on top of that to say you owe us money for the days we didn’t provide service, I think is ridiculous and the policy should be different going forward.”

The policy is not a Defense Department one, but an installation one.

While DoD establishes the fee policy for all child development programs, “adjustments to child care fees due to closures related to inclement weather or emergencies are at the discretion of the installation,” said DoD spokeswoman Air Force Maj. Carla Gleason.

Generally, the centers affected by Hurricane Florence were closed from Sept. 12–18, although one has remained closed longer because of additional repairs related to storm issues. Care for those families is being offered at alternate locations.

In a Sept. 24 letter to parents of children enrolled in child development centers and school-age care programs at Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, officials noted that fees “are not pro-rated for closures, including those for inclement weather or emergencies.”

“Unlike the private sector, our ability to operate all child development centers and school age care programs for the hours of care offered is predicated upon full financial support of annual costs,” the letter stated.

Officials are receiving inquiries about the fees, said Victoria A. Long, spokeswoman for Camp Lejeune―New River.

In cases of financial hardship, parents may ask for a waiver of the fees by contacting their center’s front desk, or by contacting Resource and Referral at 910-450-0553/54/55, she said.

The programs use a fee schedule that is similar to a “fixed care plan,” that takes into account closures, as well as family ability to pay and absences,” Long said.

This is outlined in the registration policy that is signed and agreed to by parents.

“This type of plan is designed for parents, such as service members, who work a regular schedule and need a consistent, dependable, predictable approach with guaranteed space for their children,” she said.

In the letter to parents, officials noted that expenses associated with operations of child and youth programs ― such as personnel costs for full-time and part-time employees ― continue even during inclement weather closures such as the one related to Hurricane Florence.

The gunnery sergeant said he had requested a waiver, but was rejected because the family is dual military and they didn’t lose income during the storm.

“I don’t expect to get any money back, but I think it’s an unfair policy where service members have to pay them whether they are providing services or not,” he said.

Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.

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