By Clark Stork

Gronlid daycare discussions still hopeful

Jan 24, 2018 | 6:38 AM

Citizens in Gronlid are hoping traction can be regained in the potential opening of a licensed daycare in the hamlet.

Late last year, the Northeast School Division (NESD) rejected a proposal to open the Gronlid Little Giggles Daycare in a vacant wing of the community’s school. The daycare board had raised funds for renovations, had inspectors and early child education representatives from the ministry approve the site, but the NESD decided against the 20-space centre.

The NESD cited cost of renovations, no government funding, and the school’s uncertain future as reasons for the rejection. Tuesday at the NESD’s monthly board meeting, concerned Gronlid resident Greg Cochran spoke to the board. Cochran is also a member of the School Community Council. He said the NESD wouldn’t allow the daycare board and the community council to even meet at the school after the decision.

“We feel the daycare is in line with the SCC’s goals as far as helping children with learning and education, but the administration within the division did not,” Cochran told northeastNOW.

Cochran said communication broke down along the way between the daycare board and the division. Members of the school board visited the school and all signs appeared positive from the daycare group’s perspective, according to Cochran. He said the decision of the NESD was misleading.

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“Members of the school board and administration said to the media and public that the viability of the school is in question, when really it’s not under review and no one knows what the numbers will be next year,” Cochran said.

Following the meeting, chair Luke Perkins said improvements in communication between the groups is necessary. Gronlid is hosting an SCC meeting Wednesday night that Perkins will attend with the hopes of re-establishing dialogue.

“I think it starts with me attending the SCC meeting. The board hasn’t been skirting the daycare people. Every school has SCC meetings on the same nights so it’s hard to get to them,” Perkins said.

The NESD board hasn’t discussed the Gronlid daycare since the decision. Perkins said no meetings were scheduled since the rejection, as the Jan. 23 meeting was their first. Perkins said he expects a productive meeting.

“These are hard conversations to have, everyone is passionate about their schools. It’s good to have these conversations and be open and honest,” Perkins said.

Cochran hoped, following the meeting, the discussion of opening the daycare is revisited. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Clark.stork@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ClarkStork