Nic Triples Its Day Care Expanded Facility A Boon For Students

North Idaho College will triple the amount of affordable, on-campus day care for the children of its students.

“We can hardly stand it, we’re so excited,” said Carol Lindsay, director of the Children’s Center. “For many parents, this is an important part of being able to go to college.”

On Wednesday, school officials announced a $613,000 expansion project for the center, which serves 35 children. It has an average waiting list of 150.

The NIC Foundation will ask residents to donate to the project. Half of the money has been raised, said college spokesman Steve Schenk.

The kickoff donation was $10,000 from Eula Chilcott of Kellogg, who asked how she could further help the college. She chose the day-care expansion from a list of needs, Schenk said.

Other major donations included $75,000 from Washington Water Power. Washington Trust Bank underwrote a concert that raised another $50,000, which included an $8,000 direct contribution from the bank.

Car dealer Tom Addis, who will head the fund drive, has pledged $10,000.

The expanded center will open in the fall of 1998 at the latest, said Schenk.

It could open a full year sooner, if it gets a boost from the state of Idaho. NIC President Robert Bennett will seek permission this week to spend $213,000 of state money on the Children’s Center. That money had been earmarked for gymnasium air-conditioning, but NIC trustees decided child care is a higher priority.

The Children’s Center is a small, round building in Fort Sherman Park, most familiar to the public as site of the Art on the Green festival.

The expansion will allow the center, for the first time, to have an infant and toddler program and to serve hot meals.

Children are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. However, said Lindsay, income may become a factor if the center enters into a cooperative program with Head Start.

The center averages three calls a week from parents seeking day care, Lindsay said. The subsidized care costs students $8.50 a day. Private facilities usually charge $12.50 to $14.50, Lindsay said.

The six staff members each have at least an associate degree in child development.

The Children’s Center also serves as a laboratory for those studying child development, psychology and related disciplines.

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