In a major step forward for Hampton Day Care Center, Inc., leadership announced at last week’s community meetings that a director has been hired for the facility expected to open Aug. 1 and that an assistant director may be on board soon as well.
At the conclusion of Wednesday’s presentations by Mike Feeken of First Five Nebraska at the Hampton Fire Barn, Hampton Public Schools Supt. Holly Herzberg announced that Aleesha Roehrs has accepted the position of director. Herzberg said Roehrs has a degree in family studies and a minor in social work.
“She will be an outstanding director,” Herzberg said, adding that as an added bonus, Roehrs lives across the street from the former Lutheran School Building that will serve as the new home of the Hawks Learning Center, which will house the daycare.
Herzberg also discussed the efforts of the Hampton Public Schools Foundation (HPSF) and Hampton Day Care Center, Inc. in developing the facility, noting that the IRS non-profit status for the daycare corporation is in the works and should be finalized soon.
She said HPSF is taking care of the facilities aspect of the operation while the other entity is overseeing fundraising and planning for the day-to-day operations of the facility.
A flier was handed out at the meeting announcing that fundraising by both organizations was ongoing for the project. The document stated, “Funds donated to HPS Foundation will go towards the purchase and renovation of the Hawks Learning Center building. Funds donated to the Day Care Center will go towards staffing the center, supplies and needed child care equipment.”
Those looking for more information about how to donate were directed to call 402-366-9858. An Amazon Wishlist has also been set up for the facility.
Noting that the child care situation is becoming critical, Herzberg announced that Hampton daycare provider Sharon Goertzen is retiring after many years of service, leaving only one other provider in town.
Herzberg introduced several members of the daycare board in attendance at the noon meeting as well as Shonna Werth, the community coach provided by Nebraska Children and Families Foundation Communities for Kids which the Hampton group was invited to join several months ago. The designation qualifies Hampton for $30,000 in grant money for the development of the daycare over the next three years, plus the organization provides coaching and guidance, such as last week’s community meetings.
It was reported that Hampton is one of 67 Communities for Kids across the state, with Giltner also being one.
