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Shopping Guide News Wednesday, July 16, 2025
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‘Little Zebbie’s’ expansion advances with $2.5M state grant, community support Text and Photos By LIBBY HUBBARD Staff Writer “It was about retention, recruitment, and recognizing a community need,” said Rochester Community School Corporation Superintendent Jana Vance, describing the inspiration behind what began as a staff-only day care and is now
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evolving into a large-scale early childhood center. Thanks to a $2.5 million Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant from the Indiana state government, Rochester Community Schools is preparing to expand its Little Zebbie’s Day Care program into a full community-serving facility. The new building is planned for the Columbia Elementary School grounds, pending final design and state fund disbursement. The daycare initiative began two years ago as a solution to an ongoing childcare shortage in Rochester and a barrier to retaining school staff. “Principals were coming to me worried about losing teachers — not because they were unhappy with the district, but because they simply couldn’t find day care,” Vance said. Principal Jason Snyder and his wife, Jenny, a RHS teacher leading the education pathway program, spearheaded efforts to launch and operate the initial day care. The pilot program quickly demonstrated its value, not only for Rochester Schools’ staff but for the broader community. Community interest grew rapidly. “Once word got out, businesses and residents began asking if they could enroll their children,” Vance said. “That’s when we knew we had to think bigger.” The day care’s official project name at the state level remains “Little Zebbie’s,” though branding may change as it expands into a public-facing institution. Current plans call for an onsite addition or stand-alone
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FUTURE DEVELOPMENT — Columbia Elementary School currently houses a workers-only daycare, part of Rochester’s efforts to support local workforce needs and future development. structure at Columbia Elementary, with space filling more than three entire classrooms. The school corporation worked in close partnership with local stakeholders to secure the state grant and matching community funds. Vance recognized that the late Jim Straeter led the charge to raise the required $30,000 in matching contributions, while crediting significant help from FEDCO, the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, the Fulton County Community Foundation, and city and county leaders alongside Straeter’s initial campaign. “We couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. “Michael Ladd, Charlie Sparks, Mayor Trent Odell, Brian Johnson — they all played vital roles. And I have to thank our school board for allowing us the flexibility to move forward.” Columbia Elementary was chosen as the ideal location due to its existing early childhood infrastructure, including age-appropriate playgrounds, facilities, and staff experienced with younger children.
EXPANSION PLANS — Jason Snyder, left, discusses expansion plans with Jana Vance as part of Rochester’s long-term growth efforts. “It’s already home to our preschool program, and it’s designed for our littlest Zebras,” said Snyder. “That makes the transition from day care to preschool much smoother for families.” The day care will remain competitively priced but not
free, with the intent to complement not compete with private providers. “We’ve always tried to work alongside the community, not take away from it,” Snyder emphasized. “There’s more than enough demand to go around.” Continued on page 2
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