HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Public Schools hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Lil’ Hawks Child Care Center at Adams and 29th Avenue in Hutchinson on Tuesday, May 13. The project is set to start soon, and applications are currently being accepted.
“This is a project that has been in the works for a long time,” said City of Hutchinson Mayor and USD 308 Communications Director Stacy Goss during the ceremony introduction.
USD 308 Board President Laura Corey thanked everyone who came to the event, along with Mayor Goss, adding that the day felt complete with the laughter of the kids playing at Morgan Elementary School.
“It was 15 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday,” Corey said. “I had barely gotten a pink line on a pregnancy test before that all-consuming panic hit. What are we going to do for childcare?”
Corey remembers “furiously” calling to try and find a spot for a baby that “wasn’t even born yet” and one place told her she could get on their wait list, which was 18 months-along.
“That was not helpful,” Corey said. “I was scrambling, overwhelmed and trying to navigate a system that felt difficult and confusing. That moment stuck with me, not because it was rare, but because it’s so common. I know many of you here today have gone through the very same thing, and let’s be honest, no parent should have to choose between a career or a paycheck and reliable care for their child.”
Corey shared that USD 308 is no stranger to child care, and during that time, she was told that one of the best daycares in Hutchinson was run by USD 308.
“They were talking about the center that opened back in 1999, just behind the YMCA. That collaboration was a bold, ahead-of-its-time project that was brought to life by a forward-thinking school board and an innovative partnership with our high school’s career and technical education program,” Corey explained. “That building was constructed by students. Yes, real teenagers, and has been the center that’s cared for generations of Hutchinson kids for over 25 years. That’s a legacy of hands-on learning, of service and of collaboration, and it’s one we are so proud to build on today.”
She added that research on early childhood education has shown that children who attend high quality childcare are much more likely to show up to kindergarten ready to learn and thrive academically, developing the social and emotional muscles to carry them through life.
“The ripple effect of accessible childcare in Reno County is real and as both a parent and your school board president, I’m proud to say that this center reflects exactly what Hutchinson Public Schools stands for: integrity, compassion, innovation and perseverance,” Corey said. “Fifteen years ago, I never imagined I’d be standing here today, shovel almost in hand, representing the very organization that stepped up to meet a community and those that led to the creation of the Hutchinson Child Care Task Force, a group with a goal of developing systemic, sustainable and equitable solutions for providers, parents and the broader business community. Their efforts brought us to this moment, building on the bold vision of our district that they have back in 1999 and rising to meet the evolving needs of 2025. That’s the legacy that we carry forward today. That’s the work that made this possible.”
Corey gave her gratitude to all of the organizations and people involved in the project, then introduced USD 308 Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson.
“This really represents the idea that when we have a solution and the community comes together for a solution of a challenge in our community, anything is possible,” Dr. Johnson said.
Dr. Johnson first gave a shoutout to the children who took time to join the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday afternoon.
“They are the reason all of us give our best every day in this community,” Dr. Johnson said.
Dr. Johnson thanked the Reno County Child Care Task Force for their vision, leadership and grant dollars to help make the project possible, as well as the Hutchinson Community Foundation and the Greater Hutchinson Chamber for their commitment to the childcare crisis in Reno County. USD 308 Board of Education was also thanked for deciding to take on the endeavor and creating a strategic goal around early learning.
“Next week, we’re going to be celebrating seniors who are graduating, and this is the first step, kind of brings the whole book end of this week together, ” Dr. Johnson said. “The board has a great vision for excellence in our community, and this is the start for that.”
Schaefer Architecture and Wiens&Company Construction were thanked for their partnership on the project as well.
“It’s really this community that matters. Families that matter, children that matter, and the shared vision allows us to make this dream a possibility,” Dr. Johnson said. “So, as we turn our shovels toward the dirt today, let us remember this groundbreaking is more than just a start of construction, but it’s a celebration of what’s possible when we all work together.”
