Sherman 4 C's asks Goodland to help site small group childcare homes; commission signals support

Representatives of the Sherman 4 C's childcare coalition presented a community-driven proposal to expand childcare capacity in Goodland using a model that converts single-family homes into licensed group day-care facilities.

Jessica Kennedy and coalition partners outlined a strategy using grant funding (cited sources included the Hansen Foundation and the Patterson Foundation) and nonprofit structure to develop short-term group‑day‑care homes that would serve up to 12 children each, a licensing level the presenters said avoids the heavier staffing and regulatory burden that applies to larger 'childcare center' licenses.

"A single family home, 12 kiddos... We use grant funding to try to fund that," one coalition representative said, describing work already replicated in other northwest Kansas communities. Dana Stanley of the NWKS Innovation Center said her office helps communities write grants and that the coalition would not proceed until sufficient grant funding is secured.

Commissioners raised questions about competition with existing for‑profit home providers and potential impacts on staffing. Coalition representatives and staff said the nonprofit model can open grant opportunities unavailable to for‑profit providers and encouraged engagement with current providers to minimize negative impacts and identify staffing pipelines.

Commissioners indicated willingness to consider donating city lots for a pilot and requested staff follow up with draft terms that protect city interests if property is conveyed (for example, reversion clauses or time-bound covenants). Kent, the city manager, said staff would return with either a single-site proposal or comparative site options and asked the coalition to continue refining budget and funding plans.

The presentation concluded with a direction for staff to continue property conversations and return to the commission at a future meeting with a formal proposal if appropriate.