Struggling child care center rebounds

By LORI FAYBIK Courier correspondent

May 23, 2009 12:14 am

— EDDYVILLE — Things are looking a little brighter for the Eddyville Childcare Center.
“It’s now running in a positive mode,” said Eddyville-Blakesburg School Board Vice President Deb Bahr during a board meeting this week.
Recent improvements in managing student-to-staff ratios and accounting procedures has resulted in a financial upward trend and the center is beginning to operate in the black.
In addition, a recent decision by the Iowa’s School Budget Review Committee to approve a request for $294,000 in modified allowable growth to cover the deficit in the child care fund means the center can basically start anew with a clean slate, debt free.
“The sense of urgency is no longer there for us,” said Superintendent Dean Cook.
He had recommended a partial closure of the center earlier this year because the center was in the red. However this week, Cook said, “My recommendation would certainly be different now. My big issue was the $294,000.”
The board plans to discuss how to monitor the situation at a special board meeting May 29.
“Granted we have made red ink go away, but lets not let it come back,” said Board member Dan Hulbert.
In other business, the board approved teacher contracts at a 3.56 percent increase and approved confidential others at a 3 percent increase.
Under Cook’s own recommendation to assist with lowering the budget, Cook took a salary freeze.
However, in recognition of that and the fact that he will take on additional duties as the elementary school principal, the board agreed to extend his two-year roll over contract to a three-year roll over contract.