This is an update of the decision made at the October 12 Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Board of Education meeting. The information had not been made public last week by press time.
Last week at the CGD board meeting, a letter from the Kids Korner Board of Directors was read. The letter officially requested an extension until May of 2024 on the deadline to vacate its present space in the elementary school. The previous deadline given was May of 2021. The Kids Korner board also outlined a timeline regarding their desire to plan, finance and construct a new facility in the letter.
The CGD board went to a closed session to discuss the possible extension. It was a lengthy conversation lasting over an hour and twenty minutes. When they came out of the session, the board voted on the following measures: the vacate date of Kids Korner from the district building would be extended only to June 1, 2022. Rent would be increased to $875 on June 1, 2021, then to $1,275 on January 1, 2022. (The current rent is $210, which also includes internet, electricity, and heat.) The CGD board unanimously passed the motion, with all 5 members voting yes.
School Board President Beth Severson issued a statement about the decision. She noted that in the late 80s, the space in the school was vacant so the district was able to rent it to the daycare. They charged a small rent since it was a non-profit organization using taxpayer-funded space. “The needs of our district have changed since then,” the statement noted. “Three and four-year-old preschool, counselors in each building, and growing needs for ELL and special education- these are just three examples of the expanding services we are required to offer. In a nutshell, the CGD District needs the space to accommodate the public school students we serve. We cannot afford to, nor should we ever, turn away students. And it is also the law. The district is not writing this off, we are just putting our priorities where they are legally required to be: school-age children.”
For their part, the Kids Korner Board also issued a statement. “We were disappointed to learn of the school board's decision to extend our lease one year instead of the requested three years. We felt we were working towards the same goal for the last 11 months. Unfortunately, the plan that we had set forth and timeline no longer applies, as we will not have the requisite time to execute it. We will shift our short-term focus and find a space that will be best for the center.”
Both entities were still hopeful about the future of an eventual new daycare center in Clarion. Severson noted in her statement: “The district feels fortunate to have played a key role in providing very affordable daycare in Clarion for the last 30 plus years. Several people are trying to come up with a plan to move ahead with a public daycare. The community cannot afford to be without it. There are several ways to make it happen and I know our community will rally and see this through.”
The Kids Korner’s statement added, “The support we have received from the community throughout this process has inspired us to continue our long-term goal of bringing a new center to Clarion. When we look to start that process again, we know the community will be there to help, and we greatly appreciate it.”
