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Commission weighs childcare funding requests; $10,000 awarded to Levo daycare, Burlington group to return with board decision
Summary
Childcare providers and the school district told county commissioners that infant care shortages and low staff pay hinder workforce participation; the board approved a $10,000 contribution to support the Levo daycare project and asked Burlington Early Learning Center leaders and the school board to return with more proposals on a separate $30,000 retention request.
Multiple childcare providers and school district representatives told the county commission that a shortage of infant care and low staff pay are constraining workforce participation in Coffee County.
Leaders from the Burlington Early Learning Center and affiliated staff described high turnover among childcare workers, the center’s growth from about 18 children at opening to roughly 50–55 now, and waiting lists of approximately 50 children, many of them infants. Presenters described staffing challenges, low profit margins for infant care because of required low child‑to‑staff ratios, and an operating model that currently does not allow August salary increases for center staff tied to the center’s funding sources. The Burlington presenters asked the county to consider a one‑time gift of $30,000 to support staff retention incentives. Superintendent Craig Marshall (USD 243) said the school district has not historically used general‑fund dollars for daycare operations but that a board decision could consider cost‑sharing and recruitment advantages for district staff.
Commissioners did not immediately commit to Burlington’s $30,000 request; Superintendent Marshall said he would present the idea to the school board at its next meeting and return with an update.
Later in the meeting, representatives from Levoy (Levo) Daycare (USD 243 leadership) explained they had been awarded an $820,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award including state funds and a district match of $136,668, with roughly $55,000 set for architectural fees and other administrative charges. The school district said the project will retrofit an existing building to add infant rooms, playgrounds and laundry/restroom core systems and that the project could create at least six jobs. The district asked for county support to help bridge upfront capital needs and the superintendent said the district could consider a shared approach and possibly a loan or partial funding. Commissioners asked for documentation and said they would consider options.
A motion was made and the board voted to contribute $10,000 in support of the Levo Daycare project, funds to come from the Community Improvement Reserve Fund; the motion passed on a voice vote. Commissioners and district representatives agreed to continue grant fundraising and to return with details on matching or additional county support if needed.
