Hilltop Child Development Center announced to families Wednesday that it is closing most of the classrooms at its west campus location temporarily, with no set timeline to reopen them.
The early childhood center on the University of Kansas campus once had a multiyear wait list. Hilltop celebrated opening the West location with a ribbon cutting in May 2024, adding 133 seats and bringing total capacity between both the main KU campus location and West to nearly 450 kids, according to state records.
In recent years and particularly over the last few months, numerous issues have come to light at both locations. Those include reports of child abuse and an exodus of staff members that left many parents and remaining staff wondering if both locations would even be able to open in August — and if so, if they could open safely.
This publication detailed those concerns in a four-part series last month; click here to read it. Members of Hilltop’s board of directors and the center’s executive director never responded to questions for the series.
Some West staff members had already been moved to Main by early August because so many employees had left, many classrooms had open seats and many families were declining spots.
Now, most classrooms at Hilltop West will soon close, and those kids will transition to the main campus location, according to a letter to families on Wednesday.
“Infant care will continue at West until children are ready to transition to our KU campus site,” the letter stated. “We will return to Hilltop West classroom by classroom as we are able. We do not yet have a timeline to share. ”
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Wednesday’s letter to families, signed by Hilltop Executive Director Cori Berg and Casey Fraites-Chapes, president of the board of directors, stated that “almost immediately” upon opening Hilltop West, the center encountered a significant staffing challenge.
“Despite our best efforts, we have struggled to recruit and retain the number of talented educators needed to fully realize our vision,” the letter stated.
In addition to burnout, stress and feeling unsupported, many staff members who were leaving Hilltop cited frustrations about policy changes that meant they could no longer even go to the restroom when needed.
The letter acknowledges the strict teacher-to-child ratios that are required under state regulations.
“A combination of conditions in the field, decisions, actions, and moments when we fell short of our best intentions — across many roles and over time — has contributed to where we are today,” the letter stated. “Even that explanation simplifies a much broader reality.”
The letter also acknowledged concerns many parents have voiced about a lack of communication.
“While we may not be able to share every detail, please know that we are committed to providing clear, timely, and thoughtful updates as we move forward — especially when changes directly affect you and your family,” the letter stated.
Hilltop will close at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3 to allow teachers time to move into their main campus classrooms. Families that are being moved to the main campus can visit their new classrooms from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, according to the letter.
“Together, we will navigate this transition — and emerge stronger, more united, and more inspired than ever,” the letter stated in closing.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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