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Board weighs short‑term support for Acorn Village daycare as director steps down
Summary
Acorn Village (Oaks of Righteousness) faces licensing gaps after key staff departures; the district discussed options including a one‑year operation, shared staffing, seeking community providers or buying the facility, and asked staff to prepare cost and liability analysis.
District staff told the board they had been approached by Oaks of Righteousness about Acorn Village, a daycare serving young children in the Orchard East community, after the program’s director declined to renew licensing. ISD options were limited because federal Early Head Start funding requires a later timeline, and Acorn Village’s existing funding model relies on DHS reimbursements at roughly $4 per hour per child.
Staff outlined options: (a) not intervene, (b) operate the program for one year and reevaluate midyear, or (c) pursue a purchase or other community partner. Staff warned the board that running a contracted daycare in a non‑district facility raises additional insurance, staffing and compliance requirements and that an ROI analysis should be completed. Board members raised concerns about operating in a facility the district does not control and asked staff to provide staffing‑cost estimates, special‑needs capacity and risk analysis before any decision.
The board did not commit to operating the program and asked staff to return with detailed cost, staffing and liability information for further consideration.
