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Ohio dad develops 'Nupner' app to solve day care dilemma

Teachers can see in real time when students will be arriving, which helps maintain proper distancing.

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio — For so many of us working from home, worlds have collided. Dan Spencer quickly found that to be true.

He's a software designer for the Cleveland Clinic, but his title at home is dad. 

As the world started to reopen after the COVID-19 lockdowns, Spencer quickly thought about his young daughter as she went back to day care. 

"We noticed the challenges of call wait times," Spencer said. "Trying to get through to them to let them know you're picking up your child."

Seeing the problem, Spencer looked at his own expertise to be the solution. 

"So I had an idea. I'm an app developer. Why not come up with something that people can use on their phone?"

Spencer went to work and developed Nupner, an app that allows parents to schedule drop off and pick up appointments from their phone.

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Here's how it works: Parents set up a profile and select a time to arrive at the school. Then the staff can see when a student will arrive and proceed to safely escort them from their parent's car into school. 

It has increased social distancing and takes stress of the staff.

For Jenna Portik, Director of Bethesda Child Care Center in Bay Village, it has been a game changer. 

"Before the app, myself and my assistant director would actually have to sit outside under a tent and wait for people to arrive," she said. "But it's so much simpler with the app because we can see in real time when they're arriving." 

So far the app is in use at two schools and also at Perfect Fit Health Club in Bay Village. Allowing businesses to run smoother, schools to safely remain ope, and giving parents a little more piece of mind. 

Nupner is available in the app store.

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