KCCF Grant Funds Warsaw Early Learning

Warsaw Community Schools announced the receipt of a grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, which will help pave the way toward offering affordable child care to WCS staff and students as well as educational opportunities to WCS students.

The grant, totaling $15,000, will provide equipment for a new child care center stationed inside the Warsaw Area Career Center, which opened at the start of this school year, according to a news release from WCS.

The school system understands a child care crisis exists within Kosciusko County, affecting many local families including WCS teachers, the release states. In the past several years, at least four child care centers closed their doors.

According to the release, WCS believes part of the reason for these closures lies in a lack of qualified staff looking to enter into the early childhood career track. For several years, WCS has dreamed of better preparing high school students for a career in early childhood education as well as providing additional opportunities for staff seeking childcare.

In June, WCS began renovations to convert a space in the Warsaw Area Career Center into a child care center that could be used to educate, inspire and encourage high school students through firsthand experiences with childcare. Through the assistance of funds provided by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, WCS was able to open the doors on this new child care center on the first day of this school year.

Krista Polston, WCS grants and special projects coordinator, spoke of her experience with the early learning center.

"This has been such an exciting project, and I was blessed to be a part of it. The Community Foundation has been incredibly supportive of our goal to create an early childhood career track at the Warsaw Area Career Center with authentic and scaffolding experiences. WCS high school students have the opportunity for onsite experiences at the Warsaw Early Learning Academy while also working on their Child Development Associate Credential. They will be uniquely suited to enter the workforce. As a parent of a 3-year-old in the program, it has been so rewarding to see the project come to life. In just a few short weeks, my son has learned valuable academic skills, while also spending his days playing and socializing with peers,” she said.

Lynette Hawn has been selected as the director of the Warsaw Early Learning Center and will be overseeing the child care program as well as working directly with students and supervising staff. Hawn is a graduate of Purdue University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in child development and family studies. She worked for the Cardinal Service’s Kosciusko County Head Start program for 15 years where she worked as the licensing, mental health and teaching team specialist.

The assistant director of the infant and toddler program is Erin Schramm and the assistant director for the preschool program (ages 3-5) is Shelby Swartz.

There are 25 children enrolled in the Warsaw Early Child Care Center. Teachers and WCS staff interested in enrolling their children may contact the Warsaw Area Career Center for more information.

“The Community Foundation is excited to be a catalyst in increasing access to quality child care across our county. There is much work to be done, and we celebrate every move toward building sustainable quality care. Warsaw Community Schools is to be congratulated for taking a proactive approach to retaining staff who need access to child care and to helping train students in the care of children. The skills students learn will undoubtedly prepare them to be better parents themselves and will equip them to pursue a career in early childhood development if they choose,” said Suzie Light, Community Foundation CEO.

“The Kosciusko County Community Foundation was a major contributor in the implementation of our new childcare facility the Warsaw Early Learning Center,” said WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. “Their continued support toward preschool and childcare in our community is greatly appreciated and assists in filling a regional need. The Warsaw Early Learning Center will provide our staff members and eligible students a low-cost childcare and development center option.”