Curious children show interest at the Siler day care center, which is set to close in December. (Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call)

Dr. John T. Groves, dean of the college of education and human services, announced Oct. 6 that the Earl R. Siler Child Care and Development Center would be closing its doors on Dec. 24, if not sooner.

The center, located in the basement of Ralston Hall, has been serving Clarion University students and faculty, as well as the local community, for almost 20 years.

The Siler day care center opened in January 1990 and six months later was combined with the Child Development Center because they were offering the same services.

Dr. Charles Leach, interim president of Clarion University, was the inspiration to begin this program. Dr. Nancy Sayre designed, planned and executed the renovations to the Ralston Hall space.

The center provides learning activities for children and allows them to partake in daily interactions with other children their own age much like in a preschool setting, said director Diane Lutz.

The center not only serves as a place for faculty and students to take their children during class hours, but it also serves as an education facility for students fulfilling their block and student-teaching hours mandated by Pennsylvania.

Lutz began working at Siler seven years ago and recently took the directors’ position in August this year.

Lutz said that the day care center is being closed due to a lack of funding.

In addition, the facility no longer meets state requirements for education majors who are student-teaching here to receive their hours. However, the center is still utilized by block students. Block students are those who are one year away from student-teaching.

The Speech Communication Department also uses the center as a speech pathology clinic where students can come to observe the children and to assess their speech and hearing skills.

News of the closing affects not only those who work at Siler day care center, but also those who bring their children here.

“Many students may drop out because they have no one to watch their children,” said Lutz.

“Some parents have talked about hiring nannies but that can become costly,” she said.

The Siler center is working with Denise Storer, owner of Creative Kids and Kids Choice, to help find spots for some of these children.

Creative Kids and Kids Choice are the only other day care centers available in Clarion, but as Lutz said, “They can’t possibly take them all.”

Barb McClaine has worked at Siler Daycare Center since its opening almost 20 years ago.

“I am very sad. They are like my owns kids,” said McClaine.

Students at Clarion University used the day care as a way of learning. Now, students will have to find alternative ways of gaining classroom experience. (Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call)

She said she can remember when the building was just freshly painted and entirely bare: no shelves, no toys, no kids. She remembers unpacking and putting out the toys before they ever opened their doors.

“I wish the university could have shown a higher degree of interest in the center and its funding,” said McClaine.

She said she believes if the daycare center could have branched out more on campus then it would have branched out more within the community.

The Siler Center meant the world to everyone who worked there and Lutz said it has been “really hard” to learn of the closing.

“These kids are the future of Clarion University; it should begin and end here,” said McClaine.

She said she has had children that were in the daycare in the early 90s come back through the doors as block students of CUP and it is a shame the tradition will no longer continue.

“On the university’s behalf they are offering positions to myself and Barb so we can stay on campus,” said Lutz.

McClaine said she has been “blessed to work in a state facility, to have retirement and benefits. I am very lucky.”