Normally our enrollment is pretty steady during the summer, around 25 to 35 grade-schoolers during peak times. However, this year we're down to 9 kids enrolled. The cause? A state-controlled park district program.
They charge less than we do because they are heavily funded by the government.
They go on more field trips because of their ties to various park district places. (Pools and the like)
They don't have to pay for their facilities as they work out of the local grade school, giving them gymnasiums and libraries.
Being a part of the park district, they do not have to get qualified teachers, nor adhere to the teacher/student ratio that actual child care centers do. (The average is about 40 kids to one teacher, but there's no limit; and they don't have to have any college background or training.)
Whereas we provide a daily lunch program along with two snack times each day, (And all the inspections/regulations that go along with that) the park district has the kids bring in their own lunches.
Topping it off, we've got to pay taxes to our city, which then puts the money into our competition's pockets.
We've got some people working on the issue politically, but it leaves me personally without any way to get kids back into our business. Any ideas of how to combat this?
It's not something people hear about.
You're pretty screwed.
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They charge less than we do because they are heavily funded by the government
This might be something you can try to get changed.
Apply for gov't funding. If you follow all the dovernmental guidlines, whats to stop you?
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Azakias attempted to be funny by writing:
This might be something you can try to get changed.Apply for gov't funding. If you follow all the dovernmental guidlines, whats to stop you?
If he tries for force the government to raise th rate that they are charging then he is out to get the poor man.
To put it mildly you are fucked in the ass RK. This is why government should stay out of things where the public sector is already doing a passable job.
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Aw, geez, I have Naimah all over myself!
If he tries for force the government to raise th rate that they are charging then he is out to get the poor man.To put it mildly you are fucked in the ass RK. This is why government should stay out of things where the public sector is already doing a passable job.
Private sector, you closet communist sympathizer.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite. - John Kenneth Galbraith
--Satan, quoted by John Milton
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We were all impressed when Karnaj wrote:
Private sector, you closet communist sympathizer.
That's what I get for not proofreading.
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Check out the big brain on Naimah!
If he tries for force the government to raise th rate that they are charging then he is out to get the poor man.To put it mildly you are fucked in the ass RK. This is why government should stay out of things where the public sector is already doing a passable job.
I meant, apply for federal aide. Nothing's stopping him from, doing so.
I don't, frankly, see why it should be any different for you. Your place of business seems to be doing something already provided elsewhere. Whether it's new or not, whining about it isn't going to fix anything. Granted, I agree you have certain points in your favor (class to teacher ratio, etc), you hit the parents where the publically-funded version doesn't: the pocketbook. Welcome to capitalism.
Plus, to be perfectly honest, the "my taxes go to pay the competition" thing is pretty lame. That's like being a security guy and whining that you're paying for police "competition".
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
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Ja'Deth Issar Ka'bael said this about your mom:
Plus, to be perfectly honest, the "my taxes go to pay the competition" thing is pretty lame. That's like being a security guy and whining that you're paying for police "competition".
Pssst.... I'm paying my own paycheck. 
I disagree on your analogy Deth, cops versus private security offer different kinds of service. Having police in a town doesn't mean you aren't going to hire security.
Now, if the government ran a private security establishment where you had someone on hand 24 hours a day like a regular security group, that was governemnt funded, and cheaper.
He is directly paying his competition, as they provide the identical broad services with only minor changes to the details.
RK, I see this kind of like a government soup kitchen, your getting lower quality than at a grocery store, but you accept that because your poor.
Go lobby the mayor or something.
"I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
-- George Herbert Walker Bush
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Azakias wrote this stupid crap:
Pssst.... I'm paying my own paycheck.
I'm paying yours, too.
Let's see some backflips. Earn my money, woman.
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Bloodsage painfully thought these words up:
Anytime you find yourself asking the internet for advice on important life or business issues, you're already screwed.
Because a tool with vast amounts of information, and people who more than likely have gone through a similiar situation/work in a field that's used for things like this, can never be helpful, right?
Sorry Granps, did you miss your meds? I know, technology is the devil. Skaw fucked around with this message on 06-15-2006 at 03:34 AM.
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Skaw had this to say about Duck Tales:
Because a tool with vast amounts of information, and people who more than likely have gone through a similiar situation/work in a field that's used for things like this, can never be helpful, right?Sorry Granps, did you miss your meds? I know, technology is the devil.
I think that was more along the lines of "If you are asking for help from a bunch of dumbshits on a MMORPG forum." Rather than. "Other Private Childcare Providers."
The simple fact is that if the government is offering something like their program, there's apparently need enough for it that it's become something the great penny pinchers are willing to fork over resources for. For instance: air conditioning even a small school in the off-season is an EXPENSIVE proposition. Much less running all the other functions.
If the service provided by a private company is superior, you'd best make sure everyone knows how superior it is (backed with facts) and essentially point out why it's worth paying you for the service.
sigpic courtesy of This Guy, original modified by me
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Channeling the spirit of Sherlock Holmes, Skaw absently fondled Watson and proclaimed:
Because a tool with vast amounts of information, and people who more than likely have gone through a similiar situation/work in a field that's used for things like this, can never be helpful, right?Sorry Granps, did you miss your meds? I know, technology is the devil.
You're right! It's so easy to filter the wheat from the chaff, because no one ever would even think to give advice on a subject they know nothing about. It's not like every idiot has an opinion whether or not he understands the issues or relevant laws, so anything you hear on the internet is based in experience and deep understanding. And it's so easy to check credentials, too!
Whatever was I thinking? 
--Satan, quoted by John Milton
Seriously though, it seems that even parents who can afford your rates prefer the cheaper government low-quality daycare for the price. As there seems to be no demand for your service at the current price and you cannot lower your prices, you will have to offer a form of business the government is not competing as strongly with. Offer some sort of religious education, offer diet programs for overweight kids with weekly dietary reports for the parents, offer some sort of bilingual education program, etc, in short move out of the government-controlled market and into another segment.
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Everyone wondered WTF when Mod wrote:
As there seems to be no demand for your service at the current price and you cannot lower your prices, you will have to offer a form of business the government is not competing as strongly with.
That's what we've been forced to do lately, as the state doesn't offer child care to babies up through 4 years old. So we've been floating on our babies lately; we'll also be changing aspects of our summer camp program to better compete against the state. Thanks for the help everyone. 
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Nobody really understood why Rodent King wrote:
we've been floating on our babies lately
You can use those things as flotation devices too??
Holy life-preservers Batman!!
