Gilpin County Commissioners conducted a Town Hall meeting to discuss daycare options on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 6 p.m. at the Community Center. Commissioner Susan Berumen, who has worked with
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Gilpin County Commissioners conducted a Town Hall meeting to discuss daycare options on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at 6 p.m. at the Community Center. Commissioner Susan Berumen, who has worked with Eagle’s Nest, led the meeting.
Eagle’s Nest Early Learning Center, at 10655 Highway 119 in Black Hawk, announced it would close the preschool room on November 22. The nonprofit announced its immediate preschool room closure last week.
During the December 5 meeting, Berumen said there has been considerable community input and a broad range of questions. A sign-in sheet listed those wanting to be on the steering committee. County Manager Ray Rears said there will be a survey to help the community to weigh in.
At this time, the commissioners are looking forward to finding solutions. Berumen said they were eager to keep moving toward finding a way to provide child care in the county.
It is helpful to understand why Eagle’s Nest was struggling financially. They had a waiting list. The County only realized in late September that Eagle’s Nest was about to close. At that time, the child care center had ten toddlers and a waiting list. At one time, they had 60 kids. However, according to Berumen, child care in the county will always have to be subsidized.
The next step is a recommendation from the steering committee. Marnie Copland said she works with the state in a brand new mountain group, working to support Clear Creek and Gilpin parents. She raises her son here, and would like to be on the steering committee. Presently, there are 17 children enrolled in Gilpin preschool and more seats can be opened. Children four years old can get free tuition.
The preschool director in Gilpin County said they can stay open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offered positions to Eagle’s Nest staff.
Rears proposed working out a schedule for meeting and developing a strategy. The County will release the community survey, looking for community leadership in this effort. The County will schedule the first steering committee meeting, with the County role to be facilitating the steering committee working through issues and concerns raised in the survey.
For more information go to https/:Gilpin County (colorado.gov)
