Kids, Childcare and Town Meeting

We recognize that one of the hardest parts about getting all voting members of a household to Town Meeting is childcare. Not everyone has an older child that can look after the younger ones, or a mother-in-law a couple towns away who can come over to help out.

But please, please, don't let childcare issues limit your participation! As such, we have this preliminary information for you:

• In the PAC, during Town Meeting, seats are meant for registered voters. Although town officials can't really exclude children from the PAC, they can request that kids not take up a seat that a registered voter would use. They also expect that children be sufficiently quiet and well-behaved so all can hear the motions and discussion and so on. There were many, many kids in the PAC in the spring and the vast majority did just fine (all of you should be commended for that!) -- just please be aware of the seat issue and respectful of the business that is being conducted.
  
• As we hope there is a big crowd of voters, the Alden cafeteria will be used as overflow space, and kids are welcome there. The cafeteria can hold about 400 people. If needed, the practice room in the PAC can also be used as kid-friendly overflow space; that space can hold about 200.

In addition, there probably will be three other care options for parents, in and around the school campus:

• Before and After Dark will be offering coverage for a limited number potty trained children. Details will be available on October 12, and we will post them as soon as we have them.
  
• The DSU has said that they intend to offer an event that morning, as they did for the spring Town Meeting. Again, details will be forthcoming.
  
• The DHS girls volleyball team will be offering childcare in Alden 104 as a fundraiser for this new sports team. As with the above listed options, as we get specifics, we will distribute them.

If you have a regular sitter that can come to your home, super. Call them now! But again, please don't let childcare issues limit your participation in the very important town meeting! YOUR vote is critical and we need you at Special Town Meeting on October 29 at 9AM at the PAC

Whatever questions we can answer on this topic, we will. Email us at duxburycares@gmail.com.