East Mills Childcare leaders describe center growth, ask for continued county support

Megan Schnore, representing the volunteer board East Mills Childcare Solutions, told the Mills County Board of Supervisors the Lake Foundation Child Development Center of East Hills opened this past fall and currently serves about 40 children. She said the program employs roughly 15 staff members—around eight full-time—and that the center provides active learning, STEM activities and a summer program with community donations to cover pool trips.

Schnore highlighted local benefits: a local director, Britney Reynold, no longer needs to commute to Omaha; parents are better able to work more hours; and the facility has a donor recognition wall that includes Mills County. She said the board’s original charter focuses on serving low- to moderate-income families and that roughly 55% of enrolled children fall into that target.

The board responded positively. One supervisor noted regional housing growth near Melbourne and the need for childcare to support incoming families. A motion later on the agenda authorized $600 from the community betterment sales‑tax fund to create a Mills County promotional “pros” sheet intended to support local economic-development and recruitment efforts; the board approved that spending from the current fiscal year.

The county did not make a new multi-year funding commitment during the meeting. Schnore thanked the board for prior monetary support and asked for continued partnership; supervisors invited the center to come back with specifics if further funding or formal collaboration is needed. The board did not vote on any new long-term funding at this session.