Alexandria district childcare Sewing Roots says it helped staff keep working

The Alexandria Public School District on Tuesday heard a presentation on Sewing Roots Childcare, an in-house daycare for district employees that opened in September 2023 and operates under Minnesota Department of Human Services licensing inside the Early Education Center.

The program was described by Lynn Jones, director of community education, as a district initiative to address “housing, transportation, and child care” shortages that were affecting recruitment and retention. Jones said staff had noticed employees taking leave or declining jobs because of limited infant and toddler care.

“I am proud of our district and our Board of Education for researching, taking on the challenge, and the initiative to provide an in house childcare setting for our very own Alexandria Public School employees,” Jones said.

Owner and operator Vanessa Solars described the program’s start and key features: DHS licensing, separate sleep and play areas, access to district playgrounds and trails, a private office space where nursing parents can pump or nurse, and a pickup/drop‑off arrangement connecting preschoolers to classroom programs. Solars said she opened Sewing Roots after losing her own daycare spot while on maternity leave and that the program began accepting district families in September 2023.

Parent testimonials to the board emphasized the program’s impact on workforce stability and daily life. Childcare coordinator and parent Caitlin Sander said, “Being able to walk into work each day knowing my kids are cared for and just a floor away is such a relief.” Another staff member who uses the program described the time saved by having a nursing space at work and praised the bonding time it allowed with an infant.

Board members and presenters emphasized that Sewing Roots is small and designed primarily to serve district employees; program capacity, exact enrollment and hours were discussed in general terms but were not specified in the board presentation. Solars described gradual growth after opening—“first week, I did not have any kiddos; second week, I had one; third week, I had two plus my own”—and invited board members to schedule an on-site tour.

Future plans Solars mentioned included small, classroom-oriented projects such as planting a garden box and community activities for families, like an adopt‑a‑highway cleanup (noting age restrictions for participation). Jones and Solars said the program’s location within school facilities gives children access to outdoor play areas and other amenities that independent homes might not provide.

The board acknowledged the program during the meeting and several trustees worked through questions about operations, licensing and how Sewing Roots fits into broader district staffing strategies. No formal board action was required for the presentation itself; Sewing Roots was described as an independent contractor operating in district space under a license and agreement approved earlier in the consent agenda.

The presentation included a short in‑person testimonial and a recorded comment from a district parent, and concluded with Superintendent Rick Sand and board members thanking attendees. Solars noted the program continues to adjust hours and capacity and invited board members to a tour to answer additional questions.

Why it matters: District-run, on-site childcare can reduce a practical barrier to employment for school employees who must find infant and toddler care, and the board heard multiple accounts that the program kept staff employed and reduced long commutes for parents.

For now, district staff described Sewing Roots as one contribution to local childcare capacity; the board’s remarks framed it as a staff‑retention tool rather than a community‑wide childcare expansion.