“We keep this picture of the first Morris childcare in our office to remind us to keep dreaming,” says Jenn Collette chairperson for the Morris Early Learning Centre, board of directors. “There are so many people who have worked hard for the success of the childcare in our community.”
The Morris Early Learning Centre is a non-profit child care centre providing care for children infant to school age.
“This was a dream,” as Collette points to the building under construction at the site of the soccer fields next to the Morris baseball diamonds off Southwood Drive.
“We hope to be operational in the new building during the fall of 2024,” says Collette. “We currently operate two childcare sites in Morris. Our plan is to move the stuff from our old sites to here. We don’t need to wait for materials to get ready like some other sites.
“I can announce we have hired a new executive director that will start the end of February. Kaleigh Schwark is from southern Manitoba and has a wealth of experience working in bigger centres in Winnipeg,” says Collette.
The Morris facility with a capacity of 104 children is one of the largest approved in the province. Forty-six vacant spaces will be available at the new site after relocating 58 children from the two existing facilities now run by the centre.
“The board’s plan is to keep the building on Main Street after the children move,” notes Collette. “There is a wait list of 150 children. We could fill the new building just from the wait list alone. We are keeping our options open to explore the growth of the program.”
To meet provincial standards, two-thirds of the staff at the new facility must hold an Early Childhood Educator (ECE II & ECE III) classification diploma or degree program.
“We are optimistic that we can reach the required staffing levels,” Collette says. “This is a new facility and the wages are competitive.”
Besides ECE positions, anyone within the first year of employment in a child care facility must complete the provincial Child Care Assistance (CCA) program. The 40-hour course provides instruction on early learning and child care. The course costs $400.
“We have been working with a consultant around recruiting,” says Collette. “The cost of the CCA training can be a barrier to staffing. Our board has agreed to fund the cost of training for our staff, but that is not enough.
“There is a demand for trained staff, not just in our location. We are looking at a local option with the Town of Morris to bring the training here.”
For more information about joining the team, you can email bnkoc2019@outlook.com.
The Morris Early Learning Centre has been working towards getting a funded childcare facility for eight years. The project broke ground last November.
Schwark’s first task as executive director will be to review employment applications and ensure that staffing levels meet the requirements for a fall opening if construction is completed.
