District 54 opens new Early Learning Center

Young children, their families and teachers were on hand for Thursday's official opening of Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54's new Early Learning Center in Schaumburg.

A few of the new students even took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new, $19.5 million facility, built with district reserve funds.

The building, located next to the district's headquarters, is a result of a major overhaul of the former Rauch Center for Instruction and Technology. Before that it had been Schaumburg School, the district's second-oldest facility.

The new center will consolidate in one location two district programs: Early Childhood Special Education and Preschool For All — Pre-K At-Risk. These previously were housed among several of the district's other 27 schools.

With the ability to serve more than 860 children, the new Early Learning Center will eliminate waiting lists for the two programs.

Though most of the district's schools welcomed students back from summer break Tuesday, classes at the Early Learning Center won't begin until the day after Labor Day.