School board members in Antigo will vote on a plan tonight to partner with a daycare center to ensure district employees have access to childcare.
The partnership would ensure a certain number of slots at the daycare will be reserved for district employees.
Julie Sprague, the district administrator for the Unified School District of Antigo, said some employees have struggled to find childcare ever since a daycare in town abruptly closed.
“I could sense their stress, but felt really helpless to do anything about it,” she said.
Sprague was trying to find a solution to the issue when she was approached by a teacher and prospective business owner.
“She is looking to lead the teaching profession and open a daycare here in town,” Sprague said. “What we appreciated the most is the opportunity, hopefully, to secure spots in that daycare for our employees.”
Sprague said she hopes the plan will not only help retain current employees, but also attract new teachers.
“Daycare is at a crisis point all around the country,” she said. “The fact that we could take some of that stress away, and even more importantly keep valued employees and possibility recruit employees to our area because they know that childcare would be available, I think that’s a win-win.”
Sprague said it’s currently a struggle to fill vacant positions – a task that’s even harder when there’s limited available childcare options.
If the board approves the partnership, it will go into effect next school year. Sprague said several employees have already expressed interest in the program.
