Superintendent's Corner

In August 2022, Ekalaka Public Schools was able to become licensed and open a daycare for the school staff. With the closing of our only local daycare, the district felt a strong need to keep staff employed and therefore took on this project. In January, the district ran a poll to see the need in Ekalaka for daycare and the results were overwhelming. 22 families not included in the EPS daycare responded that they too are in need of daycare services in Ekalaka with 70% of them needing at least 3 days a week. This was very eye opening to our board and administration who felt strongly about sharing the information that our community is in need of another full time daycare. The capacity of a licensed group/family home is 15 max and therefore is more than the district license could take on. As the district finishes hiring for the 23-24 school year, the daycare will be finalizing its roster and considering opening to the community to help with some, but obviously not all, of the needs of our community.

It is also important to note that Ekalaka Public Schools Daycare project is funded in whole or in part under a Contract with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The statements herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Department.

The Board of Trustees approved the daycare project with the requirement that the school's general fund may not be used and the program will need to support itself. Grant funds will support the daycare through the fall of 2024. The daycare will then need to be 100% self-supporting in order to continue operating after the grant runs out.

Finally, this is a reminder to check your mail for a school ballot as we are currently running multiple elections depending on what district you reside in.