Photo Credit: Rudy and Peter Skitterians/ Stock photo
(GARY, MINNESOTA) – Little Eagles Daycare in Gary is closing its doors after this year. The closure adds to the growing loss of daycare available in the area.
After discussing the issue with daycares in the surrounding areas, including Twin Valley, speaker Marijo Vik informed the City Council that all the facilities were at capacity. Vik brought up a previous childcare study and plan, as well as an effort to form a new committee for it.
The new plan would use some of the original plans, but include necessary compliance updates. Individuals on the new committee would include local childcare providers, community organizations, churches, city officials from Twin Valley and Gary, public health representatives, and schools.
Some of the potential solutions discussed were: establishing a childcare center at a church or community facility, starting an after-school program, and reconsidering an option of using part of the former Twin Valley assisted-living facility as a daycare.
An application to gain funding for the plan is due on September 18, so Vik and others involved are working quickly to add representatives and develop a proposal before then. Vik was there with Jolene Trapp to ask Mayor Buck Engen to join the committee, and request that someone from Gary Cares be contacted to serve as well.
Engen said the request didn’t require a vote as he agreed to be on the committee. At that point, Council Member Bryan Thronson said he would contact someone on Gary Cares and request a representative from the organization join the new committee as well.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at kristin.h@lead4earth.org.
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