Five daycares based in a former elementary school in Missoula are relocating or considering new locations after structural issues with the school’s roof led to their closure earlier this month. The disruption affected families and daycares within Missoula Child Care Advantage network, which offers shared services like enrollment management and payroll. The program, managed by United Way of Missoula County, is collaborating with Missoula County Public Schools and community partners to secure temporary sites, as stated by Susan Hay Patrick, executive director of the United Way.
The final destinations for the daycares remain undecided, but the Missoula Child Care Advantage will continue, irrespective of all providers being under one roof, according to Hay Patrick. “The model is sound,” she affirmed. “The facility was the problem.”
Missoula County Public Schools leases Cold Springs School rooms for childcare, including other tenants. Inspection in early November revealed potential roof collapse signs due to failing trusses, prompting a temporary closure of the west wing from November 7, as per a press release. The district, committed to the safety of building occupants, is investigating the issue’s full scope, as confirmed by Jennifer Savage, district communications specialist.
Montessori International Plus, the largest childcare provider at Cold Springs, relocated to the school’s library space immediately after the closure, said River Yang, the director. The sudden closure was unexpected, and Yang quickly communicated with families to assess immediate childcare needs. Parent volunteers assisted in setting up the new space over the weekend following approval from Missoula Child Care Advantage and the state licensor.
Missoula Child Care Advantage and the school district refunded daycares’ November rent and offered six months of free rent in alternative locations like Cold Springs and the former Jefferson Elementary School. Churches also provided spaces, and some daycares offered temporary spots for affected children, stated Gabe Sather-Olson, the deputy director of United Way.
Best Atti-Tudes Daycare, directed by Adel Staggs, reopened in an unused classroom within Cold Springs after the sudden closure. Staggs criticized the abrupt handling and lack of communication but managed to resume operations, ensuring parents that the daycare would reopen promptly, mitigating their concerns.
Savage from MCPS emphasized the district addressed the roof issues promptly. Meanwhile, United Way’s Sather-Olson noted that childcare providers are evaluating new, licensable locations. Hay Patrick highlighted the challenge of meeting childcare licensing requirements swiftly but reassured ongoing efforts to support affected daycares.
Hay Patrick mentioned the model’s core focus is shared services, not the physical space. “The building was a laboratory to say, ‘Here are businesses that are part of this,’ but you can have a childcare in your home and be a member of MCCA and get those services,” she explained.
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