Indiana State University’s Early Child Childhood Education Center is expanding its infant and toddlers’ space from two rooms of 1,500 square feet to four rooms with about 4,000 square feet. The $500,000 renovation will be completed in early August.
As toddlers in small yellow construction hats hammered on plastic blocks and pulled out a measuring tape to see the size of toys in their temporary space, workers wearing construction hats in an adjacent building finished demolition for the children\'s new space.
Indiana State University\'s Early Child Childhood Education Center is expanding its infant and toddlers\' space from two rooms of 1,500 square feet to four rooms with about 4,000 square feet. The renovation will include a kitchen and secure entrance as well as office and staff areas. The $500,000 renovation is scheduled to be completed in early August.
Gail Gottschling, center director, said the smaller space was always meant to be temporary, but recently received the go-ahead for the renovation project.
\"We need the space,\" she said.
Many faculty and staff members have wanted to enroll their young children at the center, Gottschling said, but the previous space limited the number of children they could take. Also, the larger space will give more space for the university\'s students to observe and participate in the child care.
\"Before it was tight,\" Gottschling said.
The classrooms will be fully licensed and accredited upon their completion, Gottschling said. The center already is taking reservations from parents and Gottschling encouraged parents to apply for the open spaces. She also noted that the center will be looking to hire additional staff for the rooms.
\"We\'re so appreciative of the university and the president\'s support in this project,\" she said.
Photos:http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Media-Services/Early-Childhood-Development/i-VN54wJb/0/L/06_13_13_early_childhood_center_renovation-7489-L.jpgCarter Lyman pulls out the measuring tape. ISU Photo/Tony Campbell
http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Media-Services/Early-Childhood-Development/i-cNthXFp/0/L/06_13_13_early_childhood_center_renovation-7420-L.jpgAniya Roberson dons a construction hat. ISU Photo/Tony Campbell
http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Media-Services/Early-Childhood-Development/i-T4xQBVR/0/L/06_17_13_early_childhood_center-8630-L.jpgWorkers continue on the renovation at Indiana State\'s Early Childhood Education Center. ISU Photo/Tony Campbell
Contact: Gail Gottschling, Indiana State University, director of the Early Childhood Education Center at gail.gottschling@indstate.edu or 812-237-2547.
Writer: Jennifer Sicking, Indiana State University, associate director of media relations, at jennifer.sicking@indstate.edu or 812-237-7972