By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
A joint daycare project continues to come to fruition in St. John. Stafford County Economic Development began making headway on the new facility in May. With the help of funds from the city of St. John and Stafford County Commission, a modular building was purchased for the daycare site at 413 N. Pearl in St. John. That building arrived in mid-November, and Eco Devo Director Kathleen Norman said progress now continues inside.
"The building arrived and has been set up and anchored," she said. "Right now, there's still a fair bit of coordination in terms of getting it ready. The flooring needs to be replaced, we're having kitchenettes installed."
Sewer, water, and electric were being installed this week, and the fire marshal will inspect the facility later this month. Now the biggest wait will be getting licensed daycares into the facility, which Norman said could be operational by May or June. The facility will host two separate daycares with a shared playground that cannot be used at the same time by the two daycares.
"They are two separate spaces that will be licensed separately, and that's KDHE requirement," said Norman. "Each classroom has its own bathroom. There is an adjoining door, but that is for fire safety, not because the daycares will be interacting together."
The Stafford County Child Care Committee is now searching for providers to rent the space, which Norman said could serve up to 20 children, but will more likely serve 16-18.
"We've had a lot of interest," Norman said. "Not everyone who has expressed interest has sent an application, but we have a few to look through. We're asking that people submit a resume and three references to the committee by Dec. 30, and they'll reviewed at the same time."
Resumes may be submitted by email to staffordcochildcare@gmail.com. Find more information on the Stafford County Child Care Committee Facebook page.