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Board explores community‑run daycare in school space, asks for proposals and MOUs
Summary
Board members reviewed survey responses that showed local interest in a daycare operated either by an outside provider or community members. The board asked for proposals/MOUs to be submitted for April review and discussed potential site upgrades, security separations and grant funding to offset costs.
The Barnes County North School Board discussed options March 12 for hosting a community‑run daycare in school facilities and agreed to invite proposals and MOUs from interested operators for consideration at the April meeting.
District staff summarized roughly 27 survey responses collected to date; one outside operator indicated readiness to provide an MOU or proposal. The board discussed whether the district would fund initial improvements (plumbing, a bathroom) or require the operator to cover those costs. During the meeting a rough contractor estimate was cited for adding one to two restroom stalls (an estimate discussed in committee of about $5,000–$10,000 for plumbing and foundation work, depending on scope), but the parties agreed final responsibility would be defined in any MOU.
Board members raised operational concerns including separation and security (entry/exit points for daycare families), noise and sound insulation between the daycare and adjacent classrooms, evacuation and liability planning, and contingency planning if grants relied upon by an operator failed to materialize. Several members suggested site visits to nearby districts that operate on‑site or modular daycares and recommended the buildings & grounds committee follow up with interested respondents.
The board directed administration to leave the survey open through conferences to collect additional community input, invite proposals and MOUs from respondents, and prepare building and grounds review and cost estimates ahead of the April meeting.
