Little Bulldog Childcare in Monona looks forward to growing its partnership with MFL MarMac as the school district officially takes ownership of the building on South Page Street this fall.

Although attached to the school since opening in 2007, the daycare building had been owned by the city of Monona as part of administration of a USDA loan for the facility. MFL MarMac has paid the daycare rent for use of some space, in addition to providing resources.

When Little Bulldog learned the USDA loan would be paid off in September, earlier than anticipated, director Ashley Lograsso said it sparked conversations about how the entities could best proceed financially and with available space.

Over the summer, the MFL MarMac School Board approved a 10-year 28E agreement with Smith and Bulldog Childcare and Learning Centers, which superintendent Tim Dugger said “lays out the structure of who’s responsible for what.”

Per the agreement, “the city of Monona is completely out of it,” he stated. The daycare and Head Start programs will remain in the upper level of the building, while the school district will use the lower level for 3- and 4-year-old preschool. MFL MarMac will no longer pay rent to the daycare, but instead receive rent from Head Start as well as $1 per month from the daycare. The district will continue to support Little Bulldog through other means such as utilities, workers’ comp, insurance and technology.

“I’m really optimistic this will work for all of us,” Dugger said at the time.

Lograsso agrees.

“The loan will be paid off after our September payment. In October, we’ll officially be part of the district,” she said. “Honestly, it feels really good to be named as part of the district. I’m excited to see how that partnership is going to grow.”

Cierra Snitker is president of the all-volunteer Smith and Bulldog Childcare and Learning Centers Board, which also oversees Dr. Smith Childcare in McGregor.

She said the move solidifies the partnership, “which is something we’ve really been striving to grow. It’s nice seeing how impactful the daycare is for the district. It’s a big advantage that we have two wonderful daycares that get our kids ready for school. It makes MFL MarMac stand out.”

Lograsso said it also comes at a time when Little Bulldog—the highest rated childcare facility in Clayton County through the Iowa Quality for Kids (IQ4K) state childcare quality rating system—is adding spaces and offering more educational and financial opportunities for staff.

Over the summer, the daycare was able to expand into space the school was previously using.

“We increased our capacity by 28 spots by the district giving us that classroom,” Lograsso said. “There’s not a lot of daycare in our area. So it’s exciting to be able to say, ‘We have openings. We can accept children.’ I have literally never been in a position where I can advertise for openings since I’ve been here. We had a very long wait list.”

That’s impacted by staffing as well, Lograsso noted. Childcare is generally not a high paying field. It’s also not an easy job, which can lead to turnover.

Luckily, said Lograsso, “There are a lot of cool programs through our state right now that promote being in childcare and the education piece behind it. The Teach Iowa program has been huge for our centers and we’ve sponsored staff through that program to help send them to school to achieve either their [Child Development Associate] or early childhood associates degree. Once you reach those educational requirements, it qualifies you for what’s called the WAGE$ Program, which is a stipend through the state that helps supplement income. That’s been a driving force for our staff to be able to get education and it makes childcare a little more attractive, I think.”

Staff training helps the centers apply for grant funding too. This year, for example, a Continuum of Care grant will help Little Bulldog’s sustainability by going specifically toward wages for preschool staff.

“And it is actually specific to our 4-year-old statewide voluntary preschool program through the district. That is a partnership we had already begun before the 28E process even started,” Lograsso explained. “We were granted it, which will significantly help our financials. We’re getting $99,980 annually for three years, and that all goes toward wages.”

Grant funding additionally supported the classroom space that is helping the daycare grow.

“At Little Bulldog alone, when we did our expansion, we were able to develop a whole new classroom, but also refreshed our 3- and 4-year-old preschool program, which then doubled their capacity. Specifically, with this grant, we want to offer continuity of care for the whole week, which means before and after school and on no preschool days. It’s going to make such a big difference for our centers,” Lograsso said.

Having facilities like Little Bulldog and Dr. Smith are important for the MFL MarMac community. At a summer meeting, school board members acknowledged the daycares attract families and help feed kids into the school system.

They are also critical for childhood development, according to Lograsso.

“It’s really exciting to see the district is recognizing we are doing those things. We are the front door to the district,” Lograsso said. “But we’re not just watching kids—we’re investing in our future. The first five years of life is where 90 percent of the brain develops. I truly believe those first five years need to be positive and enriching. They need to be educational, but it’s also about growing the whole child. We’re helping them learn life skills and be kindergarten ready. Friendship making skills, social emotional development. All that is important.”

Snitker credited Lograsso and Dr. Smith Director Jennifer McCullick, as well as their staff, for this work.

“Daycare is tough with staffing and wages. It’s really nice to get to the point where we are looking at not how do we make this survive, but how are we growing,” she said.

Snitker added it helps to have a positive, supportive and hard-working board.

“We have a really great board who put in a lot of hours and are willing to dive in on fundraising and do different things that’s not just kids selling things, because we know that can get tough,” she said.

Smith and Bulldog Childcare and Learning Centers held a gala in 2026 that doubled what was brought in the inaugural year. Snitker said the effort not only supports sustainability, but gets the community involved.

Other fundraising efforts are in the works too. One is the Heavy Metal Playground, in partnership with McGregor’s Creative Places Committee.

The event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 3, at McGregor’s Landing (First Street Parking Lot).

Heavy Metal Playground is a hands-on community event where kids and families can climb aboard, explore and learn about the big machines and people who keep communities running. From fire trucks and semis to tractors and construction equipment, it’s an afternoon of fun, discovery and community connection—all while supporting Smith and Bulldog Childcare and Learning Centers. Other activities will include face painting and tattoos, a sand pile money dig, trackless train ride and popcorn and boba drinks.

“There’s a lot of positivity and momentum going on, and it makes me proud to be part of it,” Snitker said.