Community Consolidated School District 21 is exploring the possibility of building a new early childhood center in the district, a move that will enhance early learning opportunities for the community’s youngest learners, district officials announced on Tuesday.
Speaking before the Board of Education during a Committee of the Whole meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michael Connolly emphasized that the conversation was being driven by the district’s growing demand for early childhood programs, which the current facilities can no longer fully accommodate.
He noted that the district is in the planning process, and many details have yet to be determined.
“Early childhood education is a critical foundation for lifelong learning,” Connolly said later. “We’ve seen a significant rise in the number of families seeking preschool services, and it’s essential that we meet that demand with the necessary space and resources.”
The conversation with board members focused on the programming needs that would justify the new center, a timeline for project planning and construction, and options for funding of the project.
Melissa Scaletta, director of early childhood education for the district, said the goal was to bring the preschool program together under one roof: “We’re going to think of this program as a preschool program and not as a school within our district. This is a very large program, and we serve a lot of students, so we want to think of it as that.”
The district currently operates its early childhood program between Hawthorne, Tarkington and Whitman. However, space limitations have led to waiting lists and challenges in accommodating all eligible students.
Further, as highlighted through a compliance visit in the fall, the current facility at Hawthorne does not have a sufficient large motor space, which includes age-appropriate equipment, a space large enough to allow for vigorous play and wheeled toys – as well as one that is accessible for all children – and more than one play surface.
Classrooms are not also optimally designed, which has led to crowding in these areas. There is also a lack of natural lighting, preschool child-sized fixtures and facilities, and limited space for motor and physical activities critical for the development of early learners..
Designing a new space would alleviate those pressures and allow the district to serve more families, according to Scaletta.
The proposed center would provide comprehensive early childhood programming under one roof, including full-day and half-day options, special education services, and bilingual support for English learners. District officials noted the research that shows the enormous educational benefit of high-quality preschool programming and that expanding the program will close opportunity gaps and ensure that children enter kindergarten ready to succeed.
As the district considers funding options, Micheal DeBartolo, assistant superintendent for finance and operations/CSBO, assured the community that any potential project would be pursued in a fiscally responsible manner.
“We recognize the importance of balancing financial responsibility with delivering high-quality educational programs,” DeBartolo added. “Our goal is to secure funding for this project without placing an additional burden on our taxpayers.”
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