NARS seeking bids for child care

A call center is seeking proposals from child-care providers to operate a child-care facility for its employees in the former Sears building in Cape Girardeau.

The move comes after Cape Girardeau school board members deadlocked over a proposal to set up a preschool to serve the call center and the public.

The call-center company, National Asset Recovery Services Inc. or NARS, spent the past several months trying to work out a deal with the school district. But at a school board meeting Feb. 12, some members voiced concern about locating a preschool in the former Sears building because of its proximity to a pawnshop that sells guns.

NARS is leasing part of the building. The company had offered to provide 7,600 square feet of space for the school district to operate a preschool and child-care facility. The offer included another 10,000 square feet of space on the property for a playground.

NARS said it would provide the space to the school district for free and pay the utilities.

But Chris Buehrle, company president, said Monday he can't wait on the school board any longer.

The company is moving ahead with renovations to the building. In a legal notice published in the Southeast Missourian newspaper Sunday, NARS requested proposals from child-care providers.

"It is a great opportunity for someone," Buehrle said.

The company set a deadline of Feb. 28 for receiving proposals. Buehrle said the company needs to act quickly to avoid construction delays.

Buehrle said the result may be establishment of a day care in his building rather than a preschool as school officials had proposed.

The day care, he said, might not need all 7,600 square feet of space, which would free up more room for the call center.

Sharon Mueller, school board president, said she understands the need for NARS to move ahead with renovating the building. "I think it is a good business decision," she said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123