Small Wonders Child Center Incorporated

“The Board of Directors meets annually in the summer of every year. It is at that annual meeting that we share the completed and filed Form 990 with Board members. In June 2025 the Board of Directors will meet for the final time and will receive copies of this final Form 990 2024. Between dissolution in August 2024 and the final Board Meeting in June 2025, Small Wonders has been winding up its affairs, part of which is filing Form 990 2024.”

“Small Wonders has a written conflict of interest policy. Every year at the annual board meeting each director is required to disclose interests they may have that could give rise to conflicts. We discuss this topic every year at our meetings, and Small Wonders regularly and consistently monitors and enforces compliance with this policy. Up to this time, we have never had a director with interests that could give rise to conflicts.”

“The process for determining compensation of the Executive Director, the Assistant Director and the Head Teacher, all of whom are on salary, included a review and approval by all three of the board members. An investigation into the salaries of comparable positions at comparable childcare centers in New Mexico, specifically in rural New Mexico, yielded the results which were presented to the board members for approval. Each year cost of living adjustment raises are given to our three key employees upon approval by the board of directors at their annual meeting in the summer of each year.”

“Small Wonders Child Center Inc. makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public during the tax year upon request. Each year new financial statements are filed by May 15, so all of the above documents are available to the public from May 16 through May 15 of the following year. Older documents are kept on file for 10 years or more, so older documents are available to the public at any time upon request. We ask the public to please make requests to review all documents to the Executive Director, and to schedule an appointment ahead of time to ensure her availability. In 2025 requests should be made to the former Executive Director, Jackie Hobbs at the same phone number, address, and/or email address as in 2024.”

“Small Wonders Child Center, Inc. began a series of activities related to a new program called Outdoor Education which was made available to the school-aged population on early dismissal days from school, no-school days, during spring break, and during summer recess when this age group was not in school. The expanded activities included life skills and multi-cultural education through the hands-on experiences of gardening and harvesting, cooking and building, along with Pueblo, Latino and Navajo cultural experiences such as song, dance, arts, crafts, and theater. These engaging activities reflect the ethnicities found at Small Wonders Child Center.”

“In March, 2024 the Board of Directors were faced with having to replace all four key employees and two head teachers who would be retiring before the next school year's start in August, or discontinue services to the community and pursue dissolution of the corporation. It was their unanimous decision to dissolve Small Wonders Child Center, Inc. in August of 2024. They also decided to help NMSU-Grants Branch find a replacement for the preschool and daycare services, which they did. Small Wonders ceased daily operation and a new child care provider stepped in and took over as provider.”

“Articles of Dissolution were finalized and accepted by the Secretary of State, New Mexico in August 2024. All assets were distributed, bringing amount of assets owned by Small Wonders to zero at the end of the year. All tangible goods were given to the successor nonprofit organization which came to occupy the building we were renting from New Mexico State University, and all money was given to nonprofit corporations that provide services to children, youth and families in Cibola County New Mexico.”