On January 1, Lomira School District officially opened the doors to their new daycare center at St. Theresa’s school building in Theresa.
Little Lions Child Care will offer year-round services for children six weeks old through age four with additional school-age care during the summer months.
“We will be providing a safe, convenient, and developmentally appropriate environment for the children,” said Little Lions Child Care Director Alanna Bruss. “A curriculum focused on play, creativity and early childhood learning with dedicated staff members to help them along the way.”
There has been a need for more licensed daycare options to help support the local working families in the area.
“I learned the significant need when hiring for some teaching positions in the district because we had individuals who turned down our offer due to the absence of childcare,” said Lomira District Administrator Ty Breitlow. “We conducted a community-needs assessment which included a survey with the survey revealing that 50% of our surveyed families required child care. At that point, I committed to learning everything I could from other districts that had district-sponsored centers.”
The Village of Lomira approached the school district about the need for local affordable daycare in the area and it became a focal point of conversations with families and other stakeholders.
Administrator Breitlow drafted a business plan outlining the child care center’s vision, goals, and preliminary operational details with the next step pitching the idea with the help of Tami Vodak, (long-term district employee at Theresa Learning Community) being a liaison with the church leadership of St. Theresa’s in an effort to secure a location.
When the church leadership at St. Theresa’s supported the daycare project for the area, Brietlow started collaborating with the Department of Children and Families on licensing and regulatory requirements.
“Eric Schalk (LES/TLC Associate Principal) was a tremendous support with his experience and knowledge with the Little Lions’ wrap-around and summer care to lean into,” said Breitlow. “Rick Geiger, John Muentner, and Paul Schaeve were significant contributors from a facility management perspective.”
See DAYCARE page 9
Picture of one of the daycare rooms.
BEN PRIESGEN PHOTO
The sign by the entrance of the new Little Lions Child Care Center in Theresa. SUBMITTED
Outdoor area at the Little Lions Child Care Center.
BEN PRIESGEN PHOTO DAYCARE
from page 1 The Lomira Board of Education approved the budget and plan for the daycare in July and the School District proceed to hire Alanna Bruss as Little Lions Day Care Director, who brings 12 years of experience in a group child care center with the last eight years serving as the Director in the Richfield area.
“The availability of child care in the community is vital for supporting the well-being and development of children, empowering families, and fostering a thriving, productive business sector,” said Breitlow. “It is a key investment that benefits individual families and contributes to our workforce, which leads to a more resilient community with access to reliable child care allowing parents to work, pursue education, or undergo training by contributing to the economic stability of families.”
“Little Lions Child Care Center’s goals include providing children of our community the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment created just for them while offering parents a piece of mind to focus on their work day,” said Bruss.
“Little Lions Child Care aims to provide a structured, academicbased program for infants and toddlers that supports holistic development through engaging, age-appropriate activities,” said Breitlow. “We aim to build strong partnerships with families by offering them a peace of mind and valuable access and resources while fostering a sense of community that contributes to our district’s overall well-being and growth.”
The Little Lions Child Center will be having an open house on January 3 from 5:30-7 p.m. at St. Theresa’s school building at 105 Wisconsin St. Theresa, WI.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here