CAPTION: Members of the Reno County Childcare Task Force, USD 309 staff and board members gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the Little Panthers Daycare in South Hutchinson on August 30. The daycare was made possible with help from a Kansas Accelerator Grant and in partnership with the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce. CREDIT HUTCHINSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
By Kate Irelan
The Nickerson/South Hutchinson School USD 309 district’s new Little Panthers Daycare answers the call to recruit and retain teachers and staff and contribute to helping with county daycare shortages.
In a strategic planning meeting last fall, the USD 309 board of education and staff met with community members and parents of students in the district and what came of that meeting was a mutually identified desire to recruit and retain teachers and staff. Together with the Reno County Childcare Task Force, they brainstormed ideas and daycare needs rose to the top.
Amy Jones, assistant superintendent of USD 309, said that by the time they were able to apply for a Kansas Accelerator grant, they were only eligible for a secondary accelerator grant to make purchases of furniture, playground equipment, washer and dryer, and other equipment for an existing building. They could not get a grant for construction.
Jones said that even though they missed out on the initial accelerator grant, the grant they received was a great opportunity.
The school district had three buildings they repurposed into daycare facilities. Two are modular buildings at South Hutchinson Elementary and one is an empty classroom at Nickerson Elementary. Each facility can accommodate 12 children ages birth to 12 years old.
The daycare opened a couple of weeks ago and children are already attending the daycare. The district is still accepting applications for children 12 months old to 12 years old. The infant spots are already full.
“It feels great to see kids in the facility, taking advantage of the toys and equipment, thanks to the grant,” said Jones. “It’s been a long time coming. The licensing process took 8 months. It’s rewarding to see all the hard work done by daycare director Melanie Howell come to fruition.”
“The kids are having a great time playing with the toys and the equipment. They are busy all day long,” Jones said.
The daycare was originally open only to USD 309 teachers and staff, and once they all had a chance to apply, the daycare is now open to the rest of the community. Jones said it is open to anyone who wants to bring their kids there, and staff use it as afterschool care for their older kids.
They were able to celebrate the opening with the Reno County Childcare Taskforce and the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 30 in front of one of the facilities at South Hutchinson Elementary.
Jones said that they appreciate the support from the community, board, and staff in getting the project underway.
To get more information about the daycare or to apply, call the USD 309 district office at 620-663-7141 or visit their website, usd309ks.org.
