BGCWN opens Carson City child care site

State and local officials gathered Friday to celebrate a continuation of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada’s Smart Start openings with its Thompson center at 710 W. Fourth St. behind Bordewich Bray Elementary School.

The partnership with Carson City School District gives priority enrollment to educators who have children in public schools and need help with child care so they can continue working during or after school hours.

BGCWN Chief Executive Officer Brett Zunino told visitors who came to tour the center that the organization is working to open five new Smart Start centers by the end of 2025 to alleviate the region’s day care shortage as outlined by the Childcare Working Group task force report released in February 2023. The report found more than 74% of children ages 0 to 5 do not have access to licensed child care.

“We hope to have five brand new Smart Starts that will serve 380 kids and it will take about 30% of our need for child care away,” Zunino said. “So it impact the community in a very positive way.”

Michelle Williams, executive director over the Smart Start programs, said the workers who will foster learning for the children enrolled are contributing to an early start not just on academic achievement but greater economic growth and to foster human capital.

“Parents are bravely trusting us and relying on our teams to educate them and be there for them during the day,” she said. “The impact of preschool education transcends mere academic achievement. It capitalizes on social and economic wellbeing.”

CCSD Superintendent Andrew Feuling said the partnership with the BGCWN is a successful example of how well Carson City works together to solve problems and benefit everyone.

“Many months ago, I was reading a 70-page document about how to run a day care,” he said. “I couldn’t read it, I don’t speak day care, it’s this whole other language. In speaking with Brett that day, he said, ‘We speak day care, we can do this.’”

The BGCWN opened its Russell Way location in January and recently announced its expansion efforts on its Mountain Street and North Carson Street facilities.