The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation (MVCSC) has received a $350,000 grant from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to help subsidize childcare expenses for staff during the 2024-2025 school year. This funding, secured through a collaborative effort with the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation (MVEF) who authored the grant, offers essential support to 52 MVCSC employees by providing significant relief from daycare expenses.

Through this one-year grant, each eligible MVCSC employee receives $4,000 towards their licensed and registered daycare center, including those at the district’s own Mini-Marauder Preschool. Staff members have shared that this financial assistance has alleviated significant financial burdens, enabling them to better manage rent, mortgage, and other essential expenses. This reduction in daycare costs has also allowed employees to allocate funds for their child’s extracurricular activities and college savings, easing financial stress across multiple facets of family life.
 

Employees who benefit from the grant shared the following comments in a recent assessment: 

• “In addition to just the financial benefits, I also felt this immense appreciation and pride that I am blessed to work in a district that cares so deeply about its employees. It is not lost on me that this grant is an incredible amount of time and effort for a whole team of people. I hope they know all of the excited hugs, texts, emails, and conversations between those of us who benefitted. It was truly a celebration!”

• “The subsidy gave us more money to use for other bills and to contribute to savings. It also lessened the monthly financial burden.”
• “This subsidy gave us the peace of mind that my child receives early education before entering kindergarten."
• “I am still playing catch-up from being on maternity leave, and with the added expense of having daycare costs now- this relieved a huge financial burden for our family.”
• “Having this support with TWO kids in daycare has been such a breath of fresh air. Last year we had three in daycare and was a major hit to our finances. This year we have one in Kindergarten so one less to pay, but with this support, we can really start to put more into their 529 plans!”
• “My daughter is able to continue attending an in-home daycare that provides her with high nurture and high structure without me having to stress about affordability. It provides so much comfort knowing she's in great hands each day while I can't be with her.”
• “This has given us less stress about bills and difficult payments we’ve had to make for medical issues from my other son.” 

Renee Oldham, executive director of MVEF and the grant’s author shared, “In developing this grant, we focused on aligning the goals and aspirations shared by both the district and the foundation, aiming to support our staff and nurture the growth of our earliest learners. By easing the burden of childcare with access to high-quality, reliable options, we’re creating a foundation of support that allows our staff to focus on their vital work, knowing their children are in safe, enriching environments."

     Dr. Brandy James, MVCSC’s Early Childhood Coordinator, presented the grant’s details at the October MVCSC Board of Trustees meeting. Dr. James highlighted that nearly 4.9 million employees miss work each year due to insufficient childcare options and noted that the average annual cost of childcare for children under five is $13,736. For many families, full-time infant care can cost around $2,400 monthly for a five-day week schedule. 

     “Childcare tuition subsidies are more than just financial aid. They are a strategic investment in families, the economy, and the future,” Dr. James said, emphasizing the broader impacts of the grant.

     In the spring, MVCSC will host an Early Childhood Education Summit aimed at developing a cohesive curriculum for children from birth through preschool, ensuring more children in the community are prepared for kindergarten.

    Employee attraction and retention remain top priorities for MVCSC and this grant adds to a range of employee benefits that include subsidized wellness memberships at Hancock Health, access to the Hancock Health employee clinic, and financial guidance through Your Money Line which many have used to manage student debt. In addition, the leadership team shows support by organizing a cookout and coffee bar at each school on different days, with coffee personally delivered to staff.

   This childcare grant underscores MVCSC’s commitment to supporting its staff by addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing working families. By easing the financial strain of childcare, MVCSC hopes to foster a more engaged, focused, and resilient workforce. With continued efforts to enhance employee well-being, MVCSC is not only investing in the lives of its educators and staff but also in the future of the students and families it serves.