School board approves one-year pilot to let private daycare use unused school space, contingent on funding

The Barnes County North School Board voted April 16 to allow a privately operated daycare to use unused school space for a one-year pilot, contingent on the operator securing adequate funding through grants, donations and fundraising.

Board members debated whether housing a for‑profit daycare inside the building would displace classroom or vocational space and whether taxpayers should subsidize utilities and square footage. "I'm having a really hard time taking away space for another business to make money out of it," a board member said during the discussion, arguing that teaching and learning must remain the board's top priority. Another board member countered that leaving the room empty would not serve taxpayers and that a temporary use could help retain students and staff: "We're serving our taxpayers by having the day care in there because the students are gonna stay in the school," the board member said.

The motion that passed authorizes the preliminary use of school space for a daycare owned by Sheila Crewal, limited to a 12‑month memorandum of agreement and explicitly contingent on the operator securing funding and providing blueprints and cost estimates. The board directed the buildings-and-grounds committee and stakeholders to prepare a public meeting with layout drawings and firm cost estimates before any final agreement.

Board discussion covered licensing and capacity details presented by childcare specialists: the licensing official suggested a minimum of one bathroom with two stalls and that capacity depends on the ages of enrolled children. Committee members reported outreach efforts for potential grants, including charitable-gaming donations and local childcare grants, and noted that Department of Commerce funding priorities have shifted away from childcare in some cases. Proponents said the arrangement could prevent families from leaving the district; opponents urged exploring offsite or modular alternatives first.

The motion was moved and seconded by board members on the floor and approved by roll call. The board noted the pilot is contingent on funds being raised and said the use agreement could be reworked or terminated at the end of the year if it did not meet expectations.

Next steps: buildings-and-grounds will produce square-foot measurements and an initial blueprint, the district will invite the proposed operator and community stakeholders to a public meeting, and fundraising/financial plans must be demonstrated before the board will authorize any on-site activity.