Ekalaka Public Schools starts a daycare in the school system to support their employees.

Ekalaka Public Schools chose to start a daycare in the school system to support
their employees. When the only licensed childcare facility in the Carter County
closed , the school started brainstorming knowing that finding a solution was
crucial for us to keeping their staff. They know that there was no other plan
currently in place to replace the childcare facility and for that reason they felt it is
essential to include it in their facility. Having a daycare will also be a large
recruitment and retaining tool for Ekalaka Public Schools since the salary is not as
high as surrounding areas and there is not as much to draw teachers or other
employees into the highly remote Ekalaka school system.

The previous childcare facility supported up to 15 kids, 9 of which were children of
Ekalaka Public School staff. The school was already facing teacher shortages and
knew that without childcare availability they could lose more of the staff they had.
The school was in desperate need to offer childcare in order to keep fully staffed,
and beyond that, staff members that they know, trust, and who excel at their
jobs. It is not easy to recruit and retain employees in Ekalaka and with that,
Ekalaka Public Schools chose to make every effort possible to keep who we do have
employed and be able to recruit new employees.