CAPTION: Students of the Lil’ Hawks Childcare Center, yellow shirts in front, break ground for the new childcare facility with Sammy the Salthawk, left, with Hutchinson USD 308 staff and others. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE
By Michael Glenn
Hutchinson Public Schools celebrated the groundbreaking of the future Lil’ Hawks Childcare Center near Morgan Elementary School at 29th Ave. and Adams St. Monday.
The new childcare center will increase USD 308’s capacity for childcare from 38 slots to 65 slots, a nearly double increase. Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson said the groundbreaking came from much work from community members and the Reno County Childcare Task Force.
“This represents that when we have a solution in our community, anything is possible,” Johnson said. “The board has a great vision for excellence in our community, and this is a step to that.”
Board President Laura Corey shared a story of her difficulty finding childcare as an expecting parent 15 years ago.
“I remember furiously calling everyone I knew, trying to find a spot for a baby that wasn’t even born yet,” Corey said.
Corey added that research shows early childhood education helps a child succeed in kindergarten and throughout their education.
“The ripple effect of early childhood care is real,” Corey said. “Childcare is more than service to our families. It’s an economic driver. This center is about building community and driving the future.”
The new facility will be a standalone building and is expected to be completed in Jan. 2026.
