OTTUMWA — Some local parents are concerned the Child Development Center at Ottumwa Regional Health Center may close its doors. Officials say that’s not true.

Concerned were raised Monday after a letter was sent by Ann Aulwes, the health occupations dean at Indian Hills Community College, to parents of children who attend the child care facility.

The letter states “[ORHC] has informally notified Indian Hills that Ottumwa Regional plans to discontinue the Agreement for management of the child care facility located at Ottumwa Regional Health Center due to financial considerations.”

The letter goes on to say that IHCC wanted parents to be aware that ORHC might be seeking new staff and management for the facility.

Aulwes told the Courier Wednesday that the letter does not imply childcare services will be discontinued, rather the agreement between IHCC and ORHC could be.

IHCC provides staff and management for the childcare facility at ORHC.

“We have no plans to discontinue the agreement on our part, we are still going to provide staffing and management as long as they want us too,” said Aulwes.

She said the letter was sent out as a way to notify parents that IHCC is in the process of negotiations with ORHC.

ORHC Public Relations Director Laurie Schooley said there are no current plans in place to close the facility.

However, some parents told the Courier they believe Aulwes’ letter was misleading and premature if in fact there are no such plans to discontinue the agreement.

“The letter was not inaccurate, it goes on to say that we are in the process of negotiations ... if something happens we will notify parents in a timely manner,” Aulwes insisted.

JoEllen Randall, ORHC human resource administrative director, said in a memo dated Wednesday:

“I learned late yesterday afternoon that IHCC had distributed a memo to parents announcing that ‘ORHC had unofficially given IHCC notice of its intent to discontinue the contract for the Child Development Center.’ Neither I nor anyone at ORHC was made aware of this memo in advance of it being distributed [Monday] afternoon. ORHC has not given IHCC notice to discontinue the contract for Child Development Services.”

Aulwes said parents have nothing to be concerned about at this point and re-emphasized that no action has been taken in regards to staff or management at the facility.

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