Hibbing businesswoman Pat Ives is an advocate for families, children and early education

HIBBING—More than 50 years ago Pat Ives started her career in childcare and throughout her career she’s become a driving force to shine a light on the importance of childcare and early childhood education.

In September 1971 Ives and Carmen Moe opened Kiddy Korner Nursery Center, a small nursery school with 14 children enrolled as a solution to a limited opportunity for preschool in Hibbing. A year later the business became a nonprofit organization under its current name of Kiddy Karousel Nursery & Day Care Center.

Fast forward five decades, and the same problems Ives and Moe set out to address are at the forefront as working parents struggle to find access to quality childcare.

“It’s not a negative atmosphere,” Ives said. “Childcare is a recognized arm of economic development—people want to have families, want children, and want careers. They want a trusting, caring environment that they are comfortable with for their children.”

in May of this year Ives traveled to St. Paul as part of a grassroots effort called Kids Count on Us, where she participated in a press conference and spoke to Minnesota State Legislators on the needs of parents seeking childcare.

While some daycares did close on the day of the event, dubbed as “A Day Without Childcare,” Ives said Kiddy Karousel remained open.

Ives is also a member of the Minnesota Child Care Association, and is a past board member.

“I have to applaud the State of Minnesota, the current administration is very, very supportive and understands the need for increasing support for early childhood education,” Ives said.

Ives also commended the Northland Foundation for its support.

In the first quarter of 2024 Kiddy Karousel was awarded $10,000 from the Northland Foundation to implement creative staff recruitment and retention strategies, in partnership with St. Louis County. It was one of 28 rural aging, child care expansion funding awards the agency announced in May of this year.

Kiddy Karousel is experiencing an average daily attendance of 135 school age children for this summer.

Parents who are aware they need child care for fall are already inquiring, knowing there are limited spots. It’s common for expecting parents inquire as soon as they are pregnant, Ives said.

There is a 1 to 4 ratio for infant child care, an age group where there are commonly waiting lists.

Ives said while some people may think of waiting lists as a good thing, she insists that’s not the case.

“A wait list is not helping parents,” Ives said.

Kiddy Karousel has the physical space to expand, but there is a shortage of qualified childcare workers.

To help address the problem, Ives said Kiddy Carousel is offering in-house education as a way to serve the community and provide opportunities for the citizens of hibbing.

Ives said a person without early childhood qualifications can start out as an aid. Through training they have an opportunity to reach up to a level of a teacher qualified person, she noted.

Kiddy Karousel has a dedicated staff, and a handful of them have been there for more than 30 years, Ives noted in a previous interview. All of the staff is required to have ongoing training throughout the year, Ives pointed out.

“I want to hire the best teachers,” Ives said.

In that earlier interview Ives stressed that people are needed in early childhood adding they are “professionals, and not babysitters.”

“It’s hard work,” Ives added, while talking about the physical and mental demands, along with low wages that are common in the early childhood field.

Kiddy Karousel is open from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Ives said she’s proud of the fact that Kiddy Karousel is open on many days when the public schools are closed, including inclement weather and holidays to accommodate the schedules of working parents.

Since 2013 Kiddy Karousel has been actively involved in the Minnesota Parent Aware Quality Improvement program, when the program was introduced. The program is currently a three-star rated program.

In 2020 Ives was recognized for her efforts as recipient of the State Early Funders’ Coalition Nancy Latimer Provider Advocacy Champion Award.

In her nomination letter, Lynn Haglin, a former vice president of the Northland Foundation, talked about Kiddy Karousel and how thousands of children have benefited from the care Ives has provided—some of them now in the third generation.

“Pat meets regularly with her legislators to bring forward the issues facing childcare providers and has supported change in policy that would not affect quality of care in any way but would help providers be even more effective in their work. Pat has been willing to participate in numerous discussions, served on many committees, and provided testimony to legislators to help build understanding of the needs of young children, families, and childcare providers.”

Strong community support is a key component that Ives mentioned in the continued success of Kiddy Karousel.

Throughout the past five decades Ives has given back to the community, serving on a number of boards, and is a past president of the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She was previously recognized as a Business Person of the Year by the Chamber.