News
Public meeting held for new day care
Scott Wagar
03/11/2014
Lindsey Guss, owner and operator of the day care, Building Blocks Learning Center, LLC, in association with Deana DeFoe, director of Bottineau’s EDC, held a public meeting on March 6 to inform the public about the progress that is taking place with the new day care center being constructed on the campus of Dakota College at Bottineau under the leadership of Bottineau’s EDC.
DeFoe opened the meeting and gave a short history and timeline as to how the day care center was established and the reasoning behind a new day care in the community, which was due to the shortage of day cares in the local community.
From DeFoe’s introduction, she introduced Guss who in return spoke about her background and what parents can expect from the day care she will be offering the area.
HISTORY
Guss told those in attendance that she is a local Bottineau native and Bottineau High School graduate. From BHS, she attended the University of Mary where she earned degrees in accounting and business administration.
After she married Jason Guss, they made their home in Bismarck, and their two children attended a day care center in Bismarck.
When they moved back to the Bottineau area, Guss stated that she recognized a need for child care and preschool in Bottineau, and contacted the local EDC about her interest in establishing a day care center.
PARTNERSHIP
Guss and the EDC gained a partnership with the following stipulations:
- The EDC will own the building, furniture and fixtures
- Guss will lease the building and all contents from the EDC
- Dakota College at Bottineau will provide interns through its early childhood program
- High school and college age students will be granted an educational experience by being able to assist in the day care center.
Guss stated that the building, itself, will be called the Children’s Learning Academy, while her day care center will be called the Building Blocks Learning Center.
FLOOR PLANS
She also presented the floor plans of the building which includes an infant room, toddlers room, two preschool rooms, a commons area, kitchen/pantry, resource room, work room, laundry area, two offices, secured entrance and a large playground for the kids to play.
BENEFITS
Guss informed the audience that there are many benefits with a day care center, especially on a college campus, which include:
- Child interaction with both similar and different age levels
- Staff accountability with required staff/child ratios
- It is a learning environment
- A secured building
- There will be collaboration with Dakota College at Bottineau’s early childhood program
- Family orientated
- Piece of mind for working parents
CAPACITY AND REQUIREMENTS
She also presented the capacity and staff requirements of the center, which included:
- Infant Room – Eight children, two teachers with a one teacher to four student ratio
- Toddler Room – Ten children, two teachers with a one teacher to five student ratio
- Preschool Rooms – Two degree teachers and two teacher assistants
- Floating positions
- Part-time and full time positions
DAY SCHEDULE SAMPLE
Guss also gave an example of the daily schedule her day care center will follow:
7 a.m. – Gradual arrival and breakfast in the commons with drawing, books and puzzles for the kids when they are done with their breakfast or receive breakfast at home
8:30 a.m. – Cleanup of commons area and move into the classrooms with quiet work jobs until everyone arrives
9 a.m. – Calendar and circle time
9:30 a.m. – Lessons with workbooks, projects and open centers, which will include field trips, swimming lessons, etc…
11 a.m.— Clean-up and wash for lunch
11:30 a.m. – Lunch
Noon – Outdoor play
12:45 p.m. – Cleanup outdoor play and meet at circle in classroom where stories will be read, bathroom use, drinks, etc…
1 p.m. – Nap or quiet rest time
2 p.m. – Work jobs open with drawing, play dough, sensory table, field trips, swimming lessons, walks, etc…
2:45 p.m. – Circle time
3 p.m. – Snack time
3:30 p.m. – Outdoor play
4:30 p.m. – Open centers
5 p.m. – Clean up and gradual departures
6 p.m. – Close the center
APPLICATION PROCESS
Guss spoke on the requirements the parents must complete in order to enroll their child(ren) in the day care center, which includes a child information sheet, parent’s statement of health, copy of birth certificate, immunization record, consent/permission form, preschool form and $100 registration form.
Staff will have to fill out an employment application and will have an authorization for a background check.
DEADLINES
The paperwork deadline for applicants is March 20. The paperwork can be mailed to Building Blocks Learning Center, LLC, PO Box 466, Bottineau, ND 58318.
Individuals, who would like more information on Guss’ day care center, can contact her at 263-6380 or email her at buildingblocksnd@gmail.com.
OPENING DATE
The day care building is expected to be completed by April with an opening date of the Building Blocks Learning Center sometime in the early summer of this year.