During the combined board meeting held on February 26, Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) announced a significant development in support of the Warsaw Area Career Center (WACC) and Warsaw Early Learning Academy (WELA), the on-site child care facility for WCS staff.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation (KCCF), WCS will receive $303,000 in grant funding, which will be used over the next three years. Kosciusko County Community Foundation, in partnership with LaunchPad, is committed to providing training resources for early learning professionals and building child care programs in Kosciusko County. This specific funding is made possible by Lilly Endowment Inc. to strengthen the learning and development of young children in northeastern Indiana.
The grant is broken into two priority areas. $153,000 is earmarked for the expansion of child care services into the summer months, specifically designed to support Warsaw Community School staff. This extension of services will last for a minimum of three years.
An additional $150,000 will be put towards Child Development Associate (CDA) training for Warsaw Area Career Center students. This funding will facilitate the acquisition of CDA certificates through Ivy Tech, providing an invaluable pathway for students interested in pursuing careers in childcare. Students from Warsaw Community High School (WCHS) and Tippecanoe Valley will primarily benefit from this initiative, with remaining spots available to students from Wawasee and Whitko, ensuring a wide-reaching impact across the county.
Ben Barkey, Principal of the WACC, shared, “This is an excellent opportunity for our students and community. Quality daycare employees are so important, and I am thrilled that our students will have the opportunity to earn college credit and be certified as a CDA. This not only helps to increase the number of credentialed child care employees in our community but also provides a promising career path for our students.”
Dr. David Hoffert, Superintendent of Warsaw Community Schools, expressed his gratitude for the project, “This generous grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation is a game-changer for our community. It not only enhances our ability to provide quality child care for our staff during the summer months but also opens up fantastic educational and career opportunities for our students. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the positive impact it will undoubtedly have on our community.”
The Warsaw Early Learning Academy’s expansion and the CDA training program represent significant strides towards improving the quality of child care and education within the Warsaw community. By investing in these initiatives, KCCF and WCS are laying the groundwork for a brighter future for both children and aspiring childcare professionals in Kosciusko County.