APOLLO BEACH, Fla. — After months of waiting, many childcare centers across Hillsborough County reopened on Monday.
"The parents are ready for us to come back, the children are ready. We are ready," said Rohini Rustogi, Southshore Montessori CEO.
At Southshore Montessori, there is a new set of safety procedures that parents, staff and children must follow.
"Classrooms will be disinfected every hour and children will have to do temperature checks and hand sanitizing before entering the building," said Rustogi.
Southshore Montessori is one of more than 300 Hillsborough County childcare centers that have been closed since March due to the coronavirus pandemic. State leaders say the closure has made it difficult for parents to return to work.
"As a mother of five and a business owner, I know how important it is to have reliable childcare," said Jackie Toledo, Florida state representative (R-Tampa).
Next up, could be schools reopening. Hillsborough County schools superintendent Addison Davis said they’re waiting on CDC guidelines to come out next week, and they hope to reopen summer programs by July.
"We already developed a reopening plan that is multifaceted. We’re just waiting on those final guidelines to make that transition and be prepared for our community," said Davis.
