Less than two months after announcing that the hospital-operated day care in Franklin would close, new owners have been found who will keep the 30-year-old operation open.
Discovery Center, a child care center that has primarily served employees of Johnson Memorial Health but also the public, will be owned by Compass Park, which was formerly known as the Indiana Masonic Home. The change is effective Jan. 2, according to a news release from Johnson Memorial Health.
“This is great news for our community, the families who utilize the center and the employees,” Larry Heydon, president and CEO of Johnson Memorial Health, said in a news release. “We extend sincere gratitude to Compass Park for their willingness to take on ownership of Discovery Center and additionally to Johnson County REMC in allowing operations to continue at its current location.”
The hospital had said in August that it would close the center at the end of the school year, if not sooner, due to low enrollment.
The day care first opened in 1988 to provide childcare options for hospital staff and the community. For many of the years since, the hospital helped fund the operations of the day care since the center didn’t bring in enough money to pay all its expenses.
Enrollment dropped after the day care moved from the hospital campus to a building on International Drive. The center also struggled when it had to close for about three weeks in 2017 after mold was discovered under the flooring due to a water leak.
The number of children being cared for at the center had dropped to 55 children this summer, down about 20.
The Discovery Center will continue to operate in its current location at 752 International Drive, which is owned by Johnson County REMC.
“We are pleased to be able to now directly offer high-quality child care services to our employees and continue to serve the general public needs for years to come,” Mike Spencer, CEO of Compass Park, said in a news release. “Our priority moving forward is to maintain the integrity and reputation that Discovery Center has been able to achieve.”
The center workers will transition as employees of Johnson Memorial to employees of Compass Park, Spencer said.
“The caring, compassionate staff is what makes Discovery Center so special,” Spencer said in the news release. “We are working closely with Johnson Memorial to ensure current day care staff stays with us during this transition and beyond.”
