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Many local businesses are reporting shortages of workers, and in last week’s NLJ article “Childcare concerns” on page A8, a local day care was the latest to report staffing issues and some downsizing as a result.
Our local economy is already pretty challenged, and it is hard not to look at last week’s announcement as another sign that Weston County is stuck in a cycle that makes it harder every day to emerge and reverse this trend. After all, a shortage of childcare is generally regarded as a significant contributor to worker shortages, so a shortage of workers being cited as a factor in the decrease of available childcare in a community is the definition of a cycle.
Having adequate, available day care is directly connected to having a strong workforce in a community, and that’s what makes it difficult to break the current economic cycle.
When day cares downsize or reach full capacity, it leaves parents searching for another child care option, which can be stressful. Our community is fortunate to have a larger Children’s Center and two smaller day care operations, and we will scramble — as we always do — to come together as a community and make sure people are taken care of.
But this may also be an opportune time to try to break the cycle, and look at additional options, such as a junior kindergarten program.
A discussion was brought forth at the Nov. 12 Weston County School District #1 Board meeting about other child care options that could work for families in our community.
It was noted that other Wyoming school districts have started junior kindergarten or pre-K programs. Gillette, Sheridan, Thermopolis, Riverton, Moorcroft and Fremont County No. 2 are offering versions of these programs, and some of them have been in place for a decade.
In a junior kindergarten program, students are school-age eligible and can be counted in a school district’s average daily membership. These children need more time to ensure readiness for kindergarten. The programs help boost children’s readiness early in their school career and offer benefits such as improved academic performance and greater self-confidence that help develop a foundation for lifelong success.
Weston County School District No. 1 cannot begin a program like this without strong community partnerships, and the need must be identified. A committee could be formed to examine the possibility, and a survey could be sent to determine whether there is support for a junior kindergarten program in this community. If such a program would benefit your family or someone you know, be ready to join the conversation and lend your support where needed.
It is important to support young working families in our community, as they are vital to our workforce and to maintaining enrollment in our schools, but finding a long-term solution and reversing our current trend will require us to come together, craft a vision for our future and make the investments necessary to realize it