Daycare in Stratford church will soon close
Parents who send their children to Stepping Stones Child Care Center, located inside The Mill Church in Stratford, were notified on November 11 that the daycare is closing Friday, Dec. 23.
Sierra Custer, owner and administrator, and Aneesa Balz, director, at Stepping Stones Child Care Center, titled an email sent to parents that read as the following: “We regret to inform you that due to staffing challenges we will have to close the center. December 23 will be our last day of operation. We are sorry that the notice is as soon as it is. Changes happened within the center very abruptly and this is the choice we were left to make.”
“Please keep in mind that this affects staff too, so while you may be upset or have concerns, the staff are also going through a hard time with this. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us via e-mail or speak directly to Sierra or Aneesa. Thank you for allowing us to teach and watch your little ones grow. We have loved having you all be part of our school family. We love our families so much and are deeply sorry that this is happening.”
Parents were happy there would be a daycare center in the new The Mill Church building on STH 97 in the village of Stratford, because there is a lack of daycare providers in the Stratford area. Now they are scrambling to find daycare for their children after December 23.
Jason Cavadini, a member of The Mill Church in Stratford’s Board of Directors, said on Monday that The Milll Church leases space inside the church to Sierra Custer, owner of Stepping Stones Child Care Center. He said The Mill Church is not involved in owning and operating the daycare.
Cavadini said the The Mill Church is still discussing what the future should be for the space it leased to the daycare. He said right now The Milll Church is unsure whether it should own and operate its own daycare in this space, since Custer said in her letter to parents Stepping Stones Child Care Center is closing because of staffing challenges.
