The Juneau School Board approved a new lease for after-school childcare at Sayéik: Gastineau Community School last Thursday. The elementary school has not offered childcare since 2025, when the school district ended its program due to staffing issues.
Juneau business The Spark – which runs Little Stars Daycare in the Mendenhall Valley – came forward, looking to expand private offerings for afterschool childcare. Sayéik and Mendenhall River Community School are two elementary schools that don’t have their own afterschool childcare.
At a school board meeting last week, district Director of Operations Kristy Germain said Sayéik is more ready for the provider because it used to house district-run childcare there – the RALLY program.
“The room is ideally situated right off the commons next to the gym,” she said. “(It) still has a lot of supplies that we’re able to offer, and the room is also right there by the playground.”
The lease allows the provider to use the space rent-free – the district would also pay for custodial fees. It’s similar to an agreement the district has with Auke Lake Preschool. That provider currently offers care at Harborview Elementary, Sítʼ Eetí Shaanáx̱ – Glacier Valley Elementary and Auke Bay Elementary.
The school board in March approved a resolution supporting Southeast Childhood Collective getting funding from the Juneau Assembly to stabilize after-school childcare. The Assembly approved that funding last May.
Board Vice President Elizabeth Siddon said she supports the lease.
“I’m glad to see providers stepping up and wanting to provide after-school childcare at some of our additional sites, so this is exciting,” she said.
The Spark would be the second private provider to offer after-school childcare following the district ending the RALLY program. It’s unclear when the program will start at Sayéik.
At the board meeting, Siddon had questions about the timeline and requirements for all providers at the district to be licensed.
Germain said Auke Lake Preschool is in the final stages of getting licensed. She said The Spark has already begun the process to get licensed as well.
In an email to KTOO, a representative with the Alaska Department of Health said it takes an average of one to three months to process license applications.
The first day of school for first to twelfth grade is scheduled for this Thursday.
