News
Another step forward in day care
Scott Wagar
04/24/2012
On April 12, the State Board of Higher Education approved a lease agreement with Bottineau’s Economic Development Corporation and Dakota College at Bottineau enabling the EDC to construct a day care facility for the community of Bottineau on the campus of DCB.
“During our last strategic planning initiative, a campus day care center emerged as a campus need,” stated Dr. Ken Grosz, dean of Dakota College at Bottineau. “At this same time, the shortage of day care providers in the city had begun to emerge and the EDC had started a conversation in regard on how to satisfy this need. The college has representation on the EDC, so the idea of a cooperative arrangement was discussed and worked out. The end result of the effort was the approval of the lease by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education.”
Grosz added that currently in Bottineau there are approximately 70 to 80 fewer openings for day care when compared to last year at this time. In a recent state poll, North Dakota residents ranked day care services as the number one service needed in the state.
The day care center will provide care for 42 children. The center will also house a Head Start classroom and grant DCB students’ majoring in education and early childhood development the opportunity to work and be educated through the center.
Grosz stated that DCB is pleased to assist the EDC with providing day care in Bottineau.
“The collaboration between the college and the EDC to establish a state of the art day care center is an example of how groups can work together, share resources and add to the quality of life,” Grosz said. “A community day care center will provide a much needed service for area residents and will help satisfy the requirements of the community’s workforce.”
Although the SBSHE gave its approval to construct the day care building, the EDC is still attempting to raise the money needed to build the day care. At the present moment, it is uncertain when the day facility will be built.