‘Reliable is really important’

MT. PLEASANT - The Mt. Pleasant Community Childcare Board is on track to having a child care center available to the community in late spring of 2021.

Kristi Perry, Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance executive vice president, said the board has completed a strategic planning process and is completing paperwork to be recognized as a nonprofit.

'It's a lot of paperwork … we have formed all of our organizations, we have our bylaws and articles of incorporation,” Perry said.

The board has outlined the purpose and mission of the center and hope to deliver a place in the community to provide 'nurturing and reliable child care where children can thrive.”

'Reliable is really important - they will always be there. If a staff has to take a week off, the parents don't have to take vacation at the same time, there will be someone else to cover,” she said.

Currently, the board still is in the process of negotiating for a location in town and will look to begin working with architects in the near future for a remodel to make the building appropriate for a day care center.

Perry said after a location is locked in and the building is worked on, the board will look to hire a center director early next year.

The executive vice president added the group plans to have the center open and running, at latest, June 1.

'We're hoping to catch that crowd that needs day care over the summer,” Perry said.

From now until the end of the year, the board will be dedicated to preparing the location of the center. An announcement for the director position will likely come in January. The board will continue to hammer out details including pricing and staff hiring.

Perry said the center is taking preregistration for parents who would like to be kept up-to-date about the development of the center and would be interested in sending their children to the center once established. Preregistration does not require a commitment of any sort, Perry said.

Questions and requests to be preregistered can be sent to kids@mpiowa.org.