School board approves charging for day care service

Havre Public Schools Superintendent Andy Carlson said this morning that he is optimistic that by the end of the month a day care for school district employees will be up and running full swing.

Only one major roadblock remains in the way.

“We’re just waiting on approval from the state,” Carlson said.

He said the facility, which will be at Sunnyside Intermediate School, is ready to go and waiting to be inspected.

During a board of trustees meeting Tuesday night, a motion to charge for day care services was approved. One of the requirements for the day care, he said, it that it be self-sustaining.

“If we lose dollars on this, it’s a bad idea,” he told trustees Tuesday.

Carlson said this morning that the way it will probably work is that the day care fees will be deducted from employee checks.

Carlson had talked about the day care idea back in October.

“When you have responsibilities to be somewhere, and you want to do a good job parenting, it’s hard to coordinate that day care piece,” he had said.

The day care schedule would coincide with the school schedule.

Havre Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Craig Mueller said this morning that the rates will be, for children birth up to 2 years, $25. From 2 to school age, 5 years, he said, it will be $22 a day. Hourly rates of $5 hour will be available for people who would use it as a secondary day care.