BOLIVAR, MO – The Bolivar R-1 School District is excited to announce a crucial expansion to the Bolivar Schools Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC). The 2025 Missouri state budget has allocated $3,000,000 to fund a new addition to the ECLC in order to serve more Bolivar and Polk County residents. This expansion will provide a state-of-the-art facility that will allow Bolivar to meet the growing childcare needs of the region while also providing opportunities for students to earn an education in the early childhood development field. The district is currently exploring ways to enhance the education portion of the expansion through a partnership with Ozarks Technical Community College (Ozarks Tech).
“Child care and early childhood learning are areas where we know we must do better as a state, and we’re proud to see this partnership with Bolivar schools to help support and improve early childhood learning and access,” Governor Mike Parson said. “Not only are quality programs like this one crucial to the lifelong success of our children but also to meeting our workforce development goals. We look forward to the early learning opportunities this program will support and the model it will be for others moving forward.”
The addition to the ECLC will feature classrooms, training spaces, and resources designed to support students pursuing advanced degrees and certifications while also enhancing the learning environment for Bolivar’s youngest learners.
"We are thrilled to partner with the State of Missouri to bring this transformative opportunity to our community," said Dr. Michael Methvin, Superintendent of Bolivar R-1 Schools. "This project will not only strengthen our Early Childhood Learning Center but will also serve as a vital investment in the future of education in our region. We’re grateful to Governor Parson and the state legislature for their support in allowing us this opportunity."
Ozarks Tech is working with Bolivar R-I School District to develop a formal partnership to offer college-level coursework in Early Childhood Education. A state appropriation will allow Bolivar to expand early childhood, which opens a chance for the two educational partners to address workforce needs in the early childhood sector in that community.