Sycamore Park could accommodate Yowell students for first week of school

Last week, the Culpeper County School Board unanimously voted in favor of opening Yowell Elementary School a week late to allow construction crews extra time to complete site work at the county’s sixth elementary school scheduled to open this fall.

The first day of school in the county is Aug. 20.

This week, school officials and Culpeper Human Services staff diligently worked on where to house Yowell students for those five days of school in the meantime.

The solution: CHS will offer working families who need day care on a temporary basis from Aug. 20 to 26 the option of dropping their kids off at Sycamore Park Elementary School during those few weekdays.

Agency staff agreed to waive the registration fee for any family that only needs day care for the first five days of school.

However, there will be a $10 drop-in fee for each day.

Principal Cathy Timmons and CHS Child Care Director Dorenda Pullen met Wednesday afternoon to work out the details.

Next, the duo will present the suggestions to the School Board.

“Our meeting was very productive and it was a great approach to resolving this together,” Pullen wrote via e-mail Wednesday.

“We both agree that we are trying to assist families that are working and need care during traditional wrap around care and the families that work during instruction time that would be challenged to find care or prevented from working due to (a) delayed start date.”

The first day of school for Yowell students is Aug. 27.

Sycamore Park Principal Russell Houck immediately offered his school as a place to accommodate the students.

“I thank Russell for stepping up to the plate,” Pullen said. ”I am not surprised though because he has always been an advocate for serving children and families.”

Pullen is also working with Greg Beamer, food services director for Culpeper County Public Schools, to make sure Yowell students receive their identification numbers in order to purchase lunch at Sycamore Park.

At Sycamore Park, Yowell students will enjoy music, art, physical education, computer lab and other activities in the gymnasium and other available classrooms.

Berryville-based contractor Caldwell and Santmyer began construction on the Yowell building, which can house 650 students, last summer.

The building — near the intersection of Yowell Drive and Sperryville Pike — features large windows welcoming natural light and a “main street” concept that allows easy access to classrooms.

The School Board will make a final decision on where to house Yowell students during its regular monthly meeting Monday.

For more information about Yowell Elementary School and/or daycare services visit culpeperschools.org or call Dorenda Pullen, director of Culpeper Human Services Child Care at 829-2124 or visit her office at 1401 Old Fredericksburg Road.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .