Barron County UWEC Building to be Used for Childcare Center

As Barron County grapples with a lack of affordable childcare access, the Rice Lake Board of Education has approved a new plan to address it.

At their meeting this week, the Rice Lake Board of Education approved an agreement to use county-owned buildings at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire – Barron County campus to address the shortage of childcare options. The school district will lease two buildings at the campus, renovating one into a childcare center and the other into a gymnasium.

The current lease will run ten years and is renewable for a total of 30 years. According to a Rice Lake Chronotype report, if the Rice Lake Area School District leaves the building during the first ten years, it will reimburse Barron County for the full cost of replacing the roof. The district would use American Rescue Plan Act funding to pay for that replacement. The district will not pay rent on the facilities but will be charged with keeping both buildings in good condition.

Board of Education officials say planning and designing could take about three months. Receiving state approval for the plans could take another six weeks and renovation work could begin in September. They expect to begin operations early next year barring any delays with the approval process.

Access to affordable childcare options has become a growing issue across the state. Earlier this year, Govenror Tony Evers declared 2025 as the “Year of the Kid.” Governor Evers is also calling on the state legislature to continue the Child Care Counts program, warning of critical closures if the program ends this summer.