GOTHENBURG — Parents were able to attend a series of community meetings to learn more about the Flatwater Bank Early Learning Center, which will be located in the Gothenburg Impact Center.
The Impact Center is Gothenburg’s answer on how to handle the community’s need for an early childcare facility, an indoor sports area and an events center.
The Impact Center will include a 22,000 square foot Early Learning Center with 17 classrooms, a 7,000 square foot turf-covered indoor Sports Training Center and a 10,500 square foot Events center with 6,800 square feet for meeting space that can be divided up into four separate rooms.
Each space will have a separate and secure entrance. The Impact Center will be located at the intersection of Ave. I and 12th St. in the green space across from Gothenburg Public School and adjacent to the Legion Ball Park.
The Flatwater Bank Early Learning Center will allow around 200 children to access quality early childhood education and full-time childcare. The center will take children starting at the age of six weeks old, and starting at the age of three, children who attend full-time will be a part of the preschool program.
The Jack Randecker Sports Training Center will allow community sports teams and organizations a space to utilize for a variety of different uses.
Dayspring Bank Event Center will hold up to 400 and give Gothenburg a needed space to host events like weddings receptions, gradations, banquets, conferences and meetings.
In 2019, the City of Gothenburg conducted a feasibility study for a community center, but concerns were raised over the cost to operate a stand-alone event center and the conversation was put on hold.
The combination of the center with other needed facilities will help with the overall cost of operation, according to the Impact Facility committee.
A Childcare Shortage
“Currently, there are no open spots for infants with Gothenburg’s licensed childcare providers, and the waiting list is nearly a year long. That means, by the time the parents find out they are expecting, it is already too late to find a spot for that baby,” per the Impact Center website.
“Overall, there are simply not enough licensed childcare spots for all of the young children in Gothenburg, and parents are unable to join the workforce or continue working because of this,” per the Impact Center site.
The Gothenburg community has 50 kids on a waiting list, as both childcare centers in town have no openings.
The last community meeting for parents was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 at Flatwater Bank, which was attended by over a dozen interested parents.
The management team for the Early Learning Center was introduced. Casey Madsen, Center Director; Melissa Bell, Curriculum Director; Amber Olsen, Curriculum Director, Donna Portiner, Front Desk Receptionist and Nichole Hetz, Facilities Director.
Madsen and Hetz provided the majority of the updates for parents during the meeting.
Casey Madsen, Early Learning Center Director, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
The directors will answer to the Board of Directors who will develop policy and set the budget. The members include Alexandria Colwell, Helen Cool, Josie Floyd, Verlin Janssen, Kayla Knauss, Kristi Kreuscher and Colten Venteicher.
There will be 17 classrooms, but to make it less overwhelming for the students there will be three “neighborhoods,” with five classrooms each.
The five classrooms will include infants, six weeks to 12 months; toddlers, 12-24 months; toddlers, 24-36 months; preschool, three to four years and preschool, four to five years.
The children will be assigned to a “neighborhood,” learning community and every effort will be made to keep groups in the same neighborhood.
The Early Learning Center will be staffed to meet the following teacher to child ratios:
- Infant/Toddler (six weeks – 18 months): 4:1
- Toddler (18 months – three years): 6:1
- Three-year-old’s: 10:1
- Four- to five-year-old’s: 12:1
- School age: 15:1
The center will offer full-time children breakfast, lunch and one afternoon snack. Students in part-time preschool will be offered one snack during their class time and school age children will receive a snack when they arrive after school.
Meals will be served family-style for teachers and children in their classroom.
It was noted that the exiting Building Blocks Child Care and Learning Adventures Child Care Center will be joined with the Impact Center. Teachers from both businesses have been offered positions.
Madsen, who manages Learning Adventures, said they will continue to operate in Lexington and will soon be opening a new location in Cozad.
Hetz said after the meeting that the actual number of children who can be cared for depends on their staffing. She noted that additional staff with be advertised for and interviewed once their current staffing is finalized.
Nichole Hetz, Early Learning Center Facilities Director, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
It was noted that the Early Learning Center will follow Creative Curriculum, a researched-based, high quality learning tool that features appropriate lessons and activities for children of all ages.
The curriculum will be supplemented with appropriate activities in math, science, creative arts, literacy and interpersonal skills, among other activities that will prepare the children for kindergarten.
Madsen said the Early Learning Center will be open to care for children from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The center will be closed on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
A center calendar will be approved by the board of directors each year and distributed to parents.
Madsen said it is their intention to hire a full-time nurse to be on-site during the majority of the day. This nurse will be able to administer minor first aid and determine if additional medical treatment is needed.
The nurse will also help evaluate children and their medical conditions to determine if the condition requires the child to be excluded from care.
Security is being taken, “very seriously,” Madsen said. Access to the Early Learning Center outside of normal drop off and pick up times will be monitored electronically, and access will be granted by staff.
The connections of other areas of the Impact Center will be electronically locked at all times and will only be accessible by staff. At no other time will the general public be able to enter through these doors.
The children will be given the opportunity to play outside each day unless the weather conditions are inappropriate for outdoor activities. Madsen said a benefit of being a part of the Impact Center is that if indoor play is needed, they have access to the connected Jack Randecker Sports Training Center.
Hetz gave an overview of the center’s operations and noted their total expenses are expected to be around $1,927,000. The lion’s share of the expense is payment for staff.
Hetz said it is important to the Early Learning Center that they pay a living wage for their teachers and staff. She said that high quality childcare demands high quality individuals.
The rates parents will pay are figured weekly and are due weekly prior to care. Title XX, state subsidy, will be accepted and assistance in applying is available. There is a tuition scholarship application available for families who don’t qualify for Title XX.
The 2024-2025 private pay rates are:
Classroom
- Infants – $185
- Toddler – $175
- Preschool, full time – $170
- Preschool, part time – $70
School Age
- Before and After School – $70
- Before School Only – $35
- After School Only – $60
- Summer – $160
Madsen said the plan is to be open and operational by June. She noted that care will need to be suspended for at least three days at Building Blocks and Learning Adventures to facilitate the transition to the Early Learning Center.
These dates will be shared as soon as the staff are sure of them so families can plan accordingly. An open house for parents will be scheduled at the new center prior to opening.
During the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, Madsen noted that they hope to be able to take drop-ins, but it will be on a case-by-case basis and depend on the staffing and capacity each day.
“The Impact Center will be a benefit to the entire community, and community support will be essential to getting it built. Now is the time for community members to consider how they can be part of the Impact Center and the solutions it offers for Gothenburg’s families,” Impact Center material states.
