THE DALLES — A report put out in May by nonprofit ChildCare Aware of America said in all 50 states, care for a single child costs more than the state’s average rent.
In Oregon, the average single parent pays 53.2% of their income for center-based childcare while the average married couple with two children pays 27.5%.
And those costs are rising. According to a 2022 market rate study by The Child Care Research Partnership at Oregon State University, the price of childcare jumped between 15-37% in just two years.
“Childcare is a crisis in our community, and our community is not alone. About 72% of the state of Oregon is what’s called a childcare desert, and our community is part of that desert,” Pat Sublette, former superintendent of Columbia Gorge ESD, said during a July 22 meeting of The Dalles City Council.
Amid this crisis, the Columbia Gorge Early Learning Center is poised to address the acute shortage of childcare in the area and create a collaborative hub for the Educational Service District (ESD).
This community-based project aims to refurbish the Chenowith Middle School, a currently underutilized building, and provide early-learning based childcare for more than 200 children eight years old and younger.
Sublette, emphasized the importance of adding to the childcare landscape not only for current families of the region, but also for businesses in the Gorge who wish to attract employees with childcare needs.
“As the superintendent of the ESD, there were positions that I offered to people who wanted to move into the community who didn’t accept the position because they couldn’t find childcare, she said. “In that, I’m not alone. Certainly there are stories like that all across the community.”
A new use for Chenowith MS
“We knew that we needed a large space,” Sublette explained. “We looked at virtually every available building, and we landed on the underutilized Chenowith Middle School.”
Three primary program elements will fill the 56,000 square footage: The early learning center, community-use spaces, and new ESD offices.
“We met with people, got input from a variety of different folks, and different families. Even three-year-olds gave input on our project, which is kind of wonderful,” Sublette said.
The facility will include eight preschool classrooms and four infant-toddler classrooms, also serving as a practicum site for students enrolled in early childhood education programs at the community college.
The design features outdoor motor skill areas, community meeting spaces, and a resilience center to provide safe spaces during environmental events.
Creating a safe space
Project manager Eric Wilson said that individuals the team surveyed emphasized a desire to make early-childhood spaces feel more like a comfortable home environment.
“This became a central theme and the design idea, to have an entryway that actually feels more like a living room so these kids can come in and feel at home,” he said.
A resident, Deborah Gomez, came to the podium and asked Wilson and Sublette to address security concerns.
The building hasn’t been used as a middle school since 2009 and has attracted vandalism, but Sublette argues that having the building refurbished and occupied will improve security.
Sublette noted that the individuals who have vandalized the building inside and out have refrained from spray painting the artistic murals children painted on the walls years ago. A sign, she believes, that all parts of the community value children.
The project, estimated to cost $18 million, anticipates funding through a combination of grants and community contributions.
“We have been successful in our initial funding through the community college and an ARPA grant,” Wilson said.
The timeline for the project includes breaking ground in the third quarter of 2025, contingent on securing the necessary funding.
“Our goal is to be ready to put a shovel in the ground by December,” Wilson stated. The team is optimistic about meeting this timeline and is actively working on securing the remaining funds.
Community support, community impact
Mayor Rich Mays pointed out that this project is on the Wasco County Economic Development Commission list of top ten most important capital projects in the region.
“It’s a very vital project that is of interest to a lot of people in Wasco County,” he said.
The involvement of the community extends to partnerships with local organizations.
“This is part of the Gorge Scenic Area, and we want to be good stewards,” Sublette emphasized. The project has also involved meetings with the Friends of the Gorge and Wasco County Planning to ensure compliance and garner support.
Sublette summarized, “We’re excited about the future and the positive change this project will bring to our community.”
For more information and updates on the Columbia Gorge Early Learning Center, visit the Columbia Gorge Educational Services District website atcgesd.k12.or.us.
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