June 10, 2026
VIROQUA, Wis. — After 15 years of serving local families, Viroqua Children’s House Montessori Preschool is preparing for a major transition aimed at preserving childcare in Vernon County. Founder Jessica Anderson and the center’s teaching team are working together to convert the program into the newly formed Viroqua Childcare Cooperative, one of only a few childcare cooperatives in Wisconsin.
The shift comes as childcare providers across Wisconsin, and especially in rural communities, face mounting pressure from staffing shortages, rising costs and educator burnout, alongside increasing demand for quality care. Those challenges have put many long-standing programs at risk of closing or changing course. Organizers say the cooperative model offers a path to stay open while keeping decision-making rooted locally.
“When my son was 18 months old, I started this childcare with my ideal situation for him in mind,” Anderson said, recalling the founding vision of Montessori learning, strong adult guidance, healthy food and ample outdoor time. Over 15 years, the center has served nearly 300 families and helped support the creation of Viroqua Area Montessori School so children could continue that approach through elementary and middle school.
“Transitioning to a cooperative model will allow this quality childcare center and community of families and staff to live on, no matter what happens in my life and career,” Anderson said. “It is my hope that this program will continue long into the future.”
The cooperative has been more than a year in the making, with staff exploring ownership models, learning from other childcare cooperatives and working with the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives to evaluate feasibility.
For teachers, the change is about more than ownership—it’s about sustaining the culture of the program.
“From my first day at Children’s House, I noticed it was a truly unique environment, deeply rooted in child independence, healthy nutrition, time in nature, and profound respect for the child,” said teacher and founding cooperative member Hannah Ellefson. “As we transition … we are proud to honor and preserve these core values established by Jessica.”
Ellefson said shared governance and educator ownership will help create “a sustainable, collaborative and community-first alternative to the traditional childcare structures that feels more vital than ever in today’s economic climate.”
The new cooperative intends to maintain its Montessori-inspired approach, along with its emphasis on outdoor play, environmental care and nourishing food, while expanding opportunities for family involvement and community partnerships.
Community support is already playing a role. Local cooperatives—including Organic Valley, VernonCom and Ethos Green Power Cooperative—are backing the transition, reflecting Vernon County’s strong cooperative tradition and helping ease the shift to the new model.
Organizers will host a Family Fun Fest fundraiser on June 25 at Magpie Gelato in Viroqua, featuring children’s activities, live music, a bake sale, silent auction and a community logo design contest.
They say the goal is simple but critical: to keep a valued childcare option open and thriving for local families.
“Organizers hope the transition will not only preserve a cherished local childcare center,” the group said, “but also create a sustainable model that supports educators, families and children for years to come.”
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