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Daycare enrollment surges; director seeks MiRegistry trainer certification
Summary
Daycare Director Kate Nicolai told the board the New Buffalo Area Schools Daycare Center grew from 12 to 20 children in 2023–24 and expects 34 this August; she outlined staff training plans and year-round operations drawing families from multiple nearby towns.
Kate Nicolai, Daycare Director for New Buffalo Area Schools, told the board the district-run daycare has “nearly doubled from 12 to 20 students for the 2023-2024 school year” and expects enrollment to rise to 34 in August. She described the program as a “joyful, play-based, child-led environment” and said the center now operates year‑round.
Nicolai said the center draws families from New Buffalo as well as nearby Michigan City, La Porte, Buchanan and Galien and that staffing developments include her application to become a Certified MiRegistry Trainer. She also noted that changes in licensing regulations enabled a high‑school team member, Renina Ledkova, to pursue a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential alongside her studies.
Board members did not vote on the presentation; the information was presented as part of the meeting’s reports. The daycare presentation is documented in the July 28 agenda and the full report was attached to the meeting materials.
