District 220 early learning center poised for approval

Barrington Unit District 220 board members will vote Tuesday on whether to accept any of the construction bids they've received for an approximately $12 million early learning center at Barrington Middle School-Prairie Campus.

The new 37,000-square-foot facility would improve on the capacity, amenities and accessibility the Woodland Early Learning Center in Carpentersville now provides for at-risk 3- to 5-year-olds, officials say.

Children who benefit from early learning centers are those with special physical or learning needs, said Jennifer Bulandr, president of Barrington Area Special Voices, an advocacy group for families of special needs children.

Bulandr said there are many reasons why it makes sense for the district to be spending money in this area.

"It should be considered a priority because every dollar we spend while the children are very young saves $7 when they're older," Bulandr said.

If approved, the center is expected to open in the fall of 2010. Its more central location in the district is expected to cut down considerably on how long most children spend on the bus.

Woodland Principal Barbara Romano said the new early learning center will have 16 classrooms, whereas Woodland has only 12. Furthermore, the new building is designed specifically for very young children and accommodates electronic equipment, such as the devices some special-needs children use to communicate.

Voters twice rejected tax increases for an improved Early Learning Center, that would have moved the program to the former Health World Children's Museum in Barrington.

But in 2007, district officials decided there was enough money in reserve to embark on a limited number of capital improvement projects.

In 2008, they made the early learning center one of them.

Board President Brian Battle said the center won out over a new $25 million to $30 million middle school, not only because of the relative costs but because overall district attendance is leveling off.

After the failed referendums, Battle said he heard from many people and tax-watch groups whose criticisms were centered more on the retrofitting of Health World than on the early learning center itself.

Money for the center's construction is expected to come from savings in the capital improvement fund as well as debt service extension bonds the district has already sold.

In March, board members also approved an approximately $3 million renovation of Barrington Middle School-Station Campus which will begin immediately after the end of the school year and is expected to be completed by Aug. 17.