Oskaloosa Early Childhood Education Center – Vision Becoming Reality
New Mahaska County YMCA Project
The new Early Childhood Education and Recreation Center, being built at 1521 Green Street, will open in less than a year. When that happens it will bring the YMCA indoor recreation programs and early childhood education programs, now operating out of the former Webster School and Kids Corner buildings, into one facility. The Center will be 88,000 square feet, with a third of the area being dedicated to early childhood education.
The Center will have secure entrances for childcare that allow for a separate pickup and drop off, and will provide 20 classrooms for children ages birth-5 years old. The classrooms will have modern conveniences that allow teachers to stay in the classrooms and focus on the kids, education and play. There will be a gym dedicated to youth that allows for large motor development, and outdoor playgrounds focused on imaginative play.
The Center will provide for crossover planning between education and recreation. “I think our families will be excited at the new benefits of the Y childcare programs because they provide access to unique amenities only available in the new YMCA,” said Katy Greene, Y Membership Director whose children attend the childcare program. “We will be able to provide all of our services to all of our members.”
“The splash pad and recreational pool location will allow young children to begin swim lessons at an earlier age, and during their school day, which for me as a parent is a blessing,” she said. “I think the feature my two-year-old will be most excited about is the playground. It features a track for trike riding, a grassy berm for climbing, and lots of shade.”
Fulfilling a Need
An early childhood education center was identified as a community need more than 20 years ago. Childcare and preschool programs continue to experience growing enrollment. Growing enrollment along with changing licensing requirement have also resulted in the need for more space designed to ensure safety and provide enhanced learning environments.
In addition, employers have expressed the need for more childcare and preschool, improved indoor recreation facilities, and housing. “Our area industries are growing and in order to be competitive as we recruit talented workers to fill new positions and keep our current employees, we need modern early childhood and recreation opportunities,” said Mark Willett, General Manager of CLOW Valve and past chair of the Mahaska Community Development Group.
“In addition to these amenities, we have had a long-standing need for more housing,” said Willett who led efforts to get the City of Oskaloosa one-cent option tax passed to help fund the new Center. “It’s exciting to see the new Center being built and to see an increase in housing starts. These amenities are crucial to the success of our businesses and the community.”
The First 2000 Days™
The facility is designed to encourage fun, provide space for more activity and guided play, and to spur imagination. Learning through play is part of the Creative Curriculum® used by the Y. It is the highest rated preschool curriculum available and is proven to increase kindergarten readiness.
The first 2000 days of a child’s life, between when a baby is born and begins kindergarten, are the most important time of their life. It is the time when rapid brain development occurs which helps shape success later in life according to US Health & Human Services. With quality curriculum and facilities, students achieve higher graduation rates, reduced crime, higher earnings, and less reliance on social services.
The YMCA early childhood program has received a 4-star rating (out of 5 possible) in the Quality Preschool Preparedness Standard certification program. “Our high rating reflects excellence in the work of our teachers in providing research-based learning experiences,” said Chamra. “The new facility design will allow us to achieve a 5-star rating with more space and modern equipment for individual and group activities to promote learning.”
Powerful Partnerships
Over the years, planning groups have explored both retrofit of existing buildings in the community as well as new construction. However, because profit margins in the childcare and preschool industry is very narrow, it became clear the project could not proceed given financial limitations of the providers.
Given the need and importance of early childhood services to the community, a partnership between the City of Oskaloosa, The Oskaloosa School District and the Mahaska County YMCA was formed.
The City of Oskaloosa stepped up to provide funding toward construction of the facility through a one-cent option tax. The Oskaloosa School District pledged funding through their physical plant fund to help construct 4-year-old preschool classrooms and share in the cost of the pool which they will use for their physical education and swim team. The Y, who will serve as the Center operator, is conducting a fundraising campaign for capital costs and to fund a $2 million endowment to ensure the building can be maintained and updated in the future and provide services for generations to come.
“The school is committed to providing our youngest learners with a state-of-the-art facility, opportunities, and experiences. This Center, a joint project with the City and Y, provides that for the community and our students,” said Oskaloosa School Superintendent Paula Wright.
“Our goal is for our students, when they graduate from OHS, to have a well-rounded, solid educational experience from birth to age 18, and this is one piece of that puzzle that will make a big difference in our students’ lives,” Wright said.
The Y is working to wrap up its fundraising efforts. “While we have already raised $12 million, we hope to raise an additional $2.5 million by the end of the year to fully fund the new facility,” said YMCA CEO Matt Larson, “Every dollar donated by a community member will be matched by the George Daily Family Trust with two dollars. It’s a great way to increase the impact of your donation.” To learn more about the new Center or donate call the Y, 641-673-8411, or go to http://www.mahaskaymca.org/ournewy/.
