Some child-care providers in Joplin are upset with a proposal to expand the size of the Joplin School District's early childhood program.
District administrators want to build a $14 million early childhood center that could double enrollment in the program. They say the expansion would meet a community need and allow the district to prepare students for kindergarten.
The Joplin Globe reports the number of private early enrollment providers in Joplin dropped dramatically after the May 2011 tornado. However, supporters say the number of spaces from private providers has rebounded. They argue the district's proposal is unnecessary and unfair competition.
The district's Board of Education approved the proposal earlier this year. The district is seeking grants and federal funds to cover the estimated $14 million cost.
