Buena Vista approves MOU with Shining Mountains Montessori to expand licensed childcare in town
Loading...
Summary
The board approved Resolution No. 17 to enter a memorandum of understanding with Shining Mountains Montessori School to operate a licensed childcare center in town‑owned shell space. The school projects roughly 46 licensed spots, a sliding‑scale tuition approach and intent to reserve slots for low‑income families; trustees added clarifying language requiring annual reporting on slots and financial assistance.
The Town of Buena Vista on Feb. 24 approved a memorandum of understanding and associated resolution with Shining Mountains Montessori School to operate the childcare facility in town‑owned space.
Lisa Lam, the founder and former executive director of Shining Mountains Montessori, urged trustees to support the MOU and said, "We gather here today to mark 4 and a half years of strategic resilience... our children deserve the greatest possible life in our community." Representatives from the Community Foundation and the Chaffee County Early Childhood Council said the expansion would add roughly 46 licensed childcare slots for infants, toddlers and preschoolers — a substantial increase for the valley.
Staff summarized project milestones: site plan approval, exterior shell and public infrastructure complete, an identified primary funding source (a HUD‑related grant package) and an operator selection process that examined alternatives. Trustees and school representatives discussed hours of operation, sample tuition ranges, a financial‑assistance model that targets 30% of spots at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, and a financial‑assistance bucket budgeted roughly $45,000 in the school's plan.
Trustees asked for and secured clearer reporting expectations: the MOU will include an exhibit with a typical schedule and require annual progress reports that include family demographics, rate structure by age and the number of children receiving financial assistance. After discussion and a roll call, the board approved Resolution No. 17 as amended.
What comes next: staff and the school will finalize lease terms and return to the board with lease documents, implementation details, and the annual reporting template. Trustees emphasized that the MOU does not guarantee year‑round operation beyond what is described, and that the town will continue oversight through the reporting commitments required in the agreement.
