MENTONE — After two years of serving the children of Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation employees, the Valley Early Learning Academy (VELA) may now oversee kids from the public.
At its regular meeting on Monday at Mentone Elementary School, the Tippecanoe Valley School Board heard from VELA Coordinator Courtney Kindig and VELA Director and TVSC Director of Special Services Meagan Wilks that VELA just became licensed.
According to information from a TVSC news release, people may enroll their children at the day care center, located at Mentone Elementary, starting Jan. 6 for the upcoming school year.
The center is open to children ages 6 weeks to 3 years by Aug. 1, 2025. Kids will be divided into two rooms: 6 weeks to 16 months and 17 months to 3 years.
"We have 18 spots and only seven filled right now," said Kindig. She said parents could use state Child Care and Development Fund vouchers for their kids to attend the child care facility.
The center uses High Scope curriculum, which the TVSC release states "is a play-based, child-centered program grounded in research, encouraging children to explore, interact and exercise their imagination through purposeful play."
Wilks said VELA leaders had worked with LaunchPad, which helps promote child care in Kosciusko County.
"We've really worked with (LaunchPad Director) Sherry Searles right from the start to get things going," said Wilks. "She's very knowledgeable about child care and standards for early childhood, preschool, those kinds of things and she's been a huge help to us along with the Early Childhood Alliance."
"On behalf of the board, I just want to say thank you very much for all the hard work you ladies have put in," said TVSC Board President Adam Heckaman. "I mean this is going to make a huge impact in our community, not just our school."
People wanting to sign their kids up for the program or know more can email Kindig at [email protected].
The board also accepted a $50,000 grant for VELA, which will be used for curriculum, equipment and more. TVSC also plans to expand its child care space in the future by putting in a facility combined with a new administration building near Tippecanoe Valley High School.
Also at the meeting, the board approved the following yearly administrative salaries: TVHS Principal Brandon Kresca, $95,400; Tippecanoe Valley Middle School Principal Kyle Wieland, $86,500; Mentone Principal Randy Dahms, $89,960; Akron Elementary School Principal Scott Sterk, $83,900; TVHS Assistant Principal Dayna Kolanowski $83,400; TVMS Assistant Principal Phelix Omondi, $83,600; Wilks, $91,700; TVSC Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Inga Omondi, $83,000; and TVHS Dean of Students Joe Luce, $86,500.
In other business, the board:
• Heard from TVHS National Honor Society President Chloe Haussmann and TVHS student representatives Marisol Gonzalez and Jacob Scacco. They read letters from TVHS students thanking the board for doing renovations at the high school, which have improved student programs.
• Approved the hiring of TVHS pool manager Deanna Roe, auditorium manager Kevin Lipsey and part-time custodian Loyd Morgann, TVMS administrative assistant Stacey McGriff, Mentone special education instructional assistant Christy Evans and Akron instructional assistant Shelby French.
• Accepted the resignations of TVHS special education instructional assistant Jennifer Hallstrom and student custodians Kevin Mar and Hugo Lopez.
• Accepted $100 to Bib's Billford from an anonymous donor in memory of Mike Hoyt and in recognition of Diana Hoyt. Bib’s Billfold's funds pay for Valley teacher grants and for students in need.
• Accepted $100 from an anonymous donor to the student assistance fund at Akron Elementary and $500 from an anonymous donor to Burket Educational Center for its annual Thanksgiving dinner.
The board's next meeting is 6 p.m. Jan. 13.