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Mary Linsmeier Schools merger
Ebenezer Child Care Centers has merged with Mary Linsmeier Schools effective Feb. 1. However, leaders are already worried about their future.
BROOKFIELD, Wis. - Two area child care centers merged this month – but leaders are already worried about their future.
The merger brings together two providers with 140 employees and 500 kids.
End of an era
What we know:
Mary Linsmeier Schools executive director Dave Linsmeier is retiring. As of Feb. 1, the center’s four schools – Brookfield, Fond du Lac, South Milwaukee and Waukesha – have merged with West Allis-based Ebenezer Child Care. The schools are being renamed Ebenezer Child Care Centers.
"It hasn’t set in yet. There’s so much to do yet," Linsmeier said. "I’ve been in this for quite a while, and I’ve seen many ups and downs."
Child care costs
What we know:
As the dust settles with the merge, there’s another change on the horizon. Last month in his State of the State address, Gov. Tony Evers proposed a $500 million investment to help lower child care costs.
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What they're saying:
Beverly Anderson is Ebenezer’s executive director. She hopes the legislature will make a pandemic-era program called Child Care Counts permanent.
"We know parents are already paying premium costs for tuition – we don’t want to have to raise it more," Anderson said. "Area businesses are already struggling with getting employees. How do you retain them if you don’t have quality child care?"
Linsmeier said the funds are set to run out in June. Linsmeier used the money to increase pay for employees and keep them working.
"With unemployment rates at all-time lows, it’s been really tough for us," he said.
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Evers said 48,000 kids statewide are on waiting lists. He said a lack of workers is a big reason for that.
Linsmeier said his waiting list for infants and toddlers is about a year-long.
It all adds up to an uncertain future for two centers that just became one.
FOX6 News reached out to the Republican chair and co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance but have not heard back yet.
The Source: The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News.