Childcare Center Can No Longer Stay Open

 After this year students will not have the services of the Bemidji State University Campus Childcare Center

by Rhea Sandra Wawrzyniak
Semptember 14, 2010
Word Count: 662
Story #1



Photo by Rhea Wawrzyniak

The Childcare Center has well-equipped playgrounds in safely contained areas.

The kids go outside daily if weather permits, and infants are taken for walks in strollers.



A day filled with activities inside and outside, quiet and loud, meals, snacks, and a learning environment with qualified staff. At 7:30 in the morning preschoolers, toddlers, and infants come to Pine Hall at Bemidji State University while their parents are at work or attending school.

The Campus Childcare Center will be closing at the end of this school year. The Campus Childcare Center is not closing on lack of quality but simply for economic reasons said Lisa Erwin.

The University is very interested in finding a partner to come in and lease the space, said Erwin. The University hopes the partner would continue to operate a childcare center so they can continue to have the childcare service for the students.

Photo by Rhea Wawrzyniak

Campus Childcare Center staff knows the importance of learning through

play and the set up of the classrooms, according to the Bemidji State

University website. The picture above is the preschool reading center.

“The value of the center to students, faculty, and staff is tremendous,” Erika Bailey-Johnson said. “I hope that all options are considered before closing.”

The University used to contribute $50,000 a year to the Childcare Center, said Erwin, but over time the $50,000 was not enough to sustain the center. Now, she said, the difference between the amounts it cost to run the center and income from the users of the center is $150,000.



Last year there were 52 children using the center, said Erwin, and 21 of those children were children of students. The center is mainly supposed to serve the students at Bemidji State University, but that doesn’t really seem to be the primary focus, and that was a concern for us as well, said Erwin. The $150,000 is only not supporting the students, but supporting the people in the community as well, and that is problematic.



Photo by Rhea Wawrzyniak

The Campus Childcare Center is located in Pine Hall at Bemidji State University, and the front

 is facing Lake Bemidji. The Childcare Center is open 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM during the school year.



“There aren’t many good childcare centers in Bemidji,” said Rena Nipp. “Campus Childcare Center is almost the only one that has consistent and qualified early childhood teachers.”

“I’m able to drop my daughter off and feel she’s safe, and will be taught things during the day.” Yolonda Davis said.



 When asked her opinion on the best thing about the Childcare Center Erwin responded, “It is hard for me to pick just one.” First, the quality of the care is excellent. “I think very highly of the staff,” said Erwin. Another part of the center Erwin said she really likes is students that are in education, both at BSU and NTC, can do teaching experiences. One more thing she said that is great about the center is that there is a lot of student work there, and provides a student employment venue. Erwin hopes all these things can continue with whatever partner the University has.  

“It is truly the best job I have ever had,” Genevieve Radniecki-Hayle said. “Financially, it will be a huge loss; we have a lovely home that I’m not sure we will be able to keep.”  



Photo by Rhea Wawrzyniak

Lisa Ann Erwin, Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment, has been

in this area for three years and hopes to be able to keep providing the childcare service for

the students here at Bemidji State University.



“It is a great center and I really hope that we can continue to have the service,” said Erwin. “I am focusing on the positive at this point and we will be working hard this fall in identifying partners for the future!”