Cooperation Station supporters remain optimistic for future of childcare center

During a meeting of the Cook County Commissioners on Tuesday, May 9, the County Board agreed to suspend revolving loan payments for the Cooperation Station for six months as the local childcare center attempts to stay afloat.

The county’s Revolving Loan Committee met with Allison Plummer and Jeff Kern from the Cooperation Station Board earlier this month to discuss their request for a temporary suspension of payments as they resume management of the program and study the feasibility of continuing operations. Following that meeting, the Revolving Loan Committee voted unanimously to ask the county commissioners to approve suspending the loan payments, which they also voted unanimously to do on Tuesday.

In an interview with WTIP, Cooperation Station Board Member Lori Rothstein said the lease with the YMCA and Cooperation Station will end on or near May 31. At that point the local daycare provider will need to obtain new licensing, or certification, in order to remain open. The Cooperation Station Board is currently in the process of planning for its future as an independent, local daycare provider under a non-profit status. In order to have the time and financial capability to do the required planning, Rothstein said they needed to temporarily have the revolving loan payments suspended.

Cooperation Station currently owes two large monthly payments, one to the revolving loan fund and another monthly payment to a local financial institution for the building where the daycare is based out of in Grand Marias. Those payments, which are not unlike a mortgage payment, will continue between the local financial institution and Cooperation Station.

Meanwhile, Rothstein said Cooperation Station is currently looking to hire a new director for the facility. This would be a part-time position focused primarily on oversight or leadership of the daycare as a non-profit, as opposed to being a child care provider on site. The board is also looking for new staff, both part time and as substitutes. 

And when the agreement between the Y and Cooperation Station ends at the start of June, Rothstein said families that are currently enrolled at Cooperation Station will have the opportunity to be enrolled at a new YMCA daycare located at the Y.

And regardless of how fast, or if in fact Cooperation Station hires a new director and applies for a new license, there is likely to be a lapse in re-opening between May 31 and the time the local daycare is able to resume operations. 

Below is audio from an interview between WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs and Cooperation Station Board Member Lori Rothstein.