School Board Approves On-Site Employee Daycare — "Bruin Beginnings"

From the Blackford County School Board meeting on March 17, 2026

The Blackford County School Board voted 5-0 to create "Bruin Beginnings," an on-site daycare program for district employees. The program will serve infants through toddlers in the former art room at Blackford Primary School.

Employees will pay $30 per day per child for each of the 185 school-calendar days, whether or not the child attends. Staffing will follow a 5-to-1 ratio, with additional staff added at six children. The district expects 5 to 7 children in the first year based on staff surveys.

Startup costs are approximately $8,000. The district applied for a Blackford County Foundation grant to cover that expense; if the grant isn't awarded, the district will absorb the cost. The former art room was chosen because it has an exterior door, which is required for infant evacuation.

Enrolled children would receive free breakfast and lunch under the district's Community Eligibility Provision program. First priority goes to employees' children and those they are legal guardians for, with grandchildren eligible if space allows. Payroll deduction for fees was being explored.

The board also approved the Bruin Beginnings Parent Handbook unanimously. The superintendent cited another Indiana district that grew from 7 to 17 daycare enrollees in two years and saw significant employee retention improvement.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County School Board meeting, March 17, 2026