The decision affects two key educational resources that have served both campus communities and surrounding families for decades. The change comes as state budget cuts continue to pressure the university system financially, though officials have not detailed specific savings expected from the transition.
“We are limiting the financial liability for the university system and assuming the risk,” Christopher Emond, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central and Northern New Hampshire, told The Sentinel. “We are currently working with two foundations to help mitigate this risk as we will not know the full financial picture until we open and operate for a period of time in the fall of 2026.”
The Concord-based organization already operates more than two dozen early learning centers and after-school programs across the region, including facilities in the Upper Valley. The group also runs the Mary Stuart Gile Early Learning Center at N.H. Technical Institute in Concord, where education students gain hands-on experience.
For Upper Valley families, the transition represents both continuity and uncertainty. The Boys & Girls Clubs committed to maintaining the centers’ dual mission: providing quality childcare while serving as training sites for future educators. Keene State’s Child Development Center will continue serving children from 4 months through nearly 5 years old, including children of college employees, students, and community families.
The arrangement preserves what officials describe as essential workforce development. Students studying early childhood education, music, health science, psychology, and nursing have used these centers as practical learning laboratories for decades.
Staff at Keene State’s center will keep their positions through the current contract period ending June 19, according to Sarah Kossayda, the college’s marketing director. Officials expressed hope that workers will be rehired under the new management.
The transition addresses a broader regional challenge. New Hampshire lacks more than 9,000 childcare slots to meet current demand, according to a February 2025 report from the N.H. Fiscal Policy Institute. Keene State’s center alone provides care and early education to about 50 local children.
The university system initially sought a single organization to manage centers at three campuses: UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State. However, the University of New Hampshire announced in December it would continue operating its Child Study and Development Center independently, implementing tuition increases and possible staff reductions to ensure sustainability.
Plymouth State’s Center for Young Children and Families will also transition to Boys & Girls Clubs management. That facility serves children from 13 months through 5 years old, including families from both the campus and surrounding communities.
The financial structure depends heavily on enrollment and staffing costs, Emond noted. The organization plans to maintain the centers’ educational mission while managing operational risks that proved challenging for the university system.
For Dartmouth-area families already familiar with regional childcare shortages, the preservation of these centers under experienced nonprofit management offers some stability. The Boys & Girls Clubs’ existing Upper Valley operations suggest familiarity with local needs and educational partnerships.
The transition timeline extends into fall 2026, allowing for extended planning and staff transitions. Both centers will maintain their state licensing and continue serving as training sites where students work alongside teaching mentors and faculty.
The shift reflects broader trends in public higher education, where institutions increasingly partner with outside organizations to maintain services while managing financial pressures. For these New Hampshire communities, the arrangement preserves critical childcare resources while maintaining educational opportunities for future teachers and caregivers.
