Kinder future up in the air

BRIGHT-based Alpine Children's Services (ACS) withdrew its intentions of running childcare and kindergarten services at the Mayday Hills premises in Beechworth in a surprise announcement just hours before Indigo Shire Council’s meeting last week. ACS was recently awarded the lease by Indigo Shire Council as the sole provider to take over the Mayday Hills site, leaving existing occupiers Beechworth Community Early Years Learning Centre (BCEYLC) and Beechworth Kindergarten to vacate from Mayday Hills by January next year. BCEYLC had rallied against council’s decision, showing frustration on a lack of community consultation and transparency in the EOI process. A picnic gathering drawing more than 100 BCEYLC supporters went ahead before council’s meeting Tuesday night, with many of them attending the meeting and spilling from the gallery to the foyer. At the council meeting Indigo Shire mayor Sophie Price read a statement received from ACS from a social media post advising the community. Cr Price said it was important to advise the community of the news prior to council’s meeting, where a petition was being tabled and forum questions had been expected. "We are a community not-for-profit service that always seeks to operate in harmony with our families, children, and staff," the ACS statement read. "We place significant value on being an integral part of our community and working in partnership with families. "We actively support our staff and treat each one like the valued member of the team that they are. "However, after much consideration, we feel we cannot do this in Beechworth at the current time.” ACS provides community, not for profit early childhood education and care services throughout Alpine Shire. In Bright it operates the Alpine View Children’s Centre with programs including an early childhood education and care program, Maternal and Child Health Service, Bright Toy Library and Bright Playgroup; in Myrtleford it operates Mountain View Children's Centre, and Outside School Hours Care from St Mary’s Primary School; while in Mt Beauty is operates Lake View Children’s Centre. Cr Price expressed both sadness and disappointment at the announcement ACS had withdrawn. She said council has full confidence in the EOI process and outcome and stressed that any decision on what happens next cannot be assumed. On Wednesday, Indigo Shire Council chief executive officer Trevor Ierino said no immediate decision on what happens next has been made. “Council will need to meet to determine the future of the Mayday Hills occupancy lease," he said. Mr Ierino said council will also need to consult with a range of stakeholders including the Department of Education. He said staff have notified the existing Mayday Hills kindergarten and childcare tenants and will endeavour to meet with all parties as soon as possible.

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