New Hampton School Board Hears Pitch for Before/After School Program

Adding a before and after school program for three- and four-year-olds to operate out of the New Hampton Middle School building could get a revisit from the School Board.

In November, Superintendent Jay Jurrens presented the Board the idea of a joint effort with Little Sprouts Children’s Center. However, in December, Jurrens told Board members it would cost over $200,000 to remodel the Middle School weight room and the issue appeared to be dead. 

At the January School Board meeting, Brian Carolan and Tammy Robinson, with the Little Sprouts Board of Directors, proposed another look at the arrangement noting commitments of $75,000 from area businesses.

Robinson told the School Board the school district and New Hampton community can benefit from extending the reach of Little Sprouts.

While available space for kids remains an issue, Little Sprouts Director Amy Ameling added that having enough staff is often a problem for many childcare centers, but not Little Sprouts.

Carolan says adding the wraparound childcare before and after school and throughout the summer will allow Little Sprouts to remodel their space at First United Methodist Church to accommodate more babies, which is their longest waiting list at the center.

No action could be taken by the School Board since the presentation was made during public comments and not on the agenda.