From Tom Becker

Monroe

To the Editor:

In the most recent budget Senator Marklein secured $2 million dollars to assist Southwest Health build a childcare facility in Platteville, which will be able to have 140 children.

New Horizon Academy will run this center — a Minnesota-based childcare provider with more than 100 schools nationwide, in Iowa and Minnesota.

How is building a new center going to alleviate the childcare crisis within the state? The solution is investment to get and keep qualified teachers. Yes providers will get direct payments from the $110 million in the new budget but that is only for 11 months and then we are back to closures and shutdowns. Childcare providers are the workforce behind the workforce. There are currently empty buildings within Marklein’s district.

Questions: How many local centers and in home daycare will be closed due to the lowball funding in the budget. Will they pay at least $17 or same as someone at Kwik trip makes also where will they get the staff?

There are currently empty buildings within Marklein’s district so building a new center is not the answer.