Parents and staff urge board to save Union Grove daycare as district weighs closures

Multiple parents, teachers and staff spoke during public comment at the March board meeting to urge Iredell-Statesville Schools to keep the Union Grove childcare center open and to seek alternatives for other district-run childcare programs facing operating deficits.

Why it matters: district-run childcare can affect teacher recruitment and retention, especially for staff with young children who rely on nearby, affordable care. Public commenters said closure would force some educators and staff to leave or take untenable commutes, reducing classroom stability.

What speakers said

- Kelly Owen Buckower, a 17-year veteran teacher in the district, said the Union Grove childcare center is "a godsend" for teachers with young children and described repeated year-to-year uncertainty about whether the center would open. "The not knowing and the worry is what kills us teachers sometimes," she said.

- Ryan Cochran, a parent who said his family depends on the Union Grove center, asked the district to pursue fundraisers, grants or other options. He told the board the center is "crucial" and said keeping it open would help teacher recruitment.

- Marissa Ireland Ratcliffe, a parent, said the center faces a roughly $6,000 monthly deficit and presented a plan that she said would reduce the shortfall to about $2,640 per month by adjusting staffing to a full-time complement that fits state ratios and modest price increases. "Please don't let financial obstacles take away something that means so much to so many," she said.

- Jeffrey Newfield, a district employee and parent, asked for a transparent meeting for parents and staff to review financial details and potential fixes; he reported a small staff survey indicating many employees would consider leaving the district if childcare options were removed.

District response and context

Superintendent Jeff James and finance staff explained the centers have operated with one-time federal funding and other offsets in recent years. Staff said a combination of reduced federal grants (including ESSER-era funds) and lower indirect-cost recovery has left the childcare program with cumulative shortfalls; district staff described an aggregate negative balance on payroll across the daycare program in recent years and said some individual centers are losing tens of thousands annually.

Adam Steele, district finance staff, said indirect-cost recovery that once buffered childcare programs has declined as federal grants ended. The superintendent said some community partners and county agencies have expressed interest in the issue and staffers are meeting with local stakeholders to explore options.

Board members' responses

Board members and staff discussed options including reducing the number of district-run centers to concentrate operations, raising parent fees modestly, seeking community partners or grants, and ensuring compliance with state licensing requirements.

Chair Doug Knight said the district would pursue further conversations and noted a childcare summit included county partners and local nonprofits. Superintendent Jeff James said centers face closure unless new partners or funding steps are found.

Ending: Parents and staff urged the board for quick action. District leaders said they will continue outreach to partners and present options to the board; no final decision about the long-term operation of the centers was announced at the meeting.