Dist. 220's Early Learning Center not ready for prime time - yet

Barrington Unit District 220's Woodland Early Learning Center in Carpentersville won't be replaced as early as planned after all.

Due to this summer's three-week construction strike, the district's brand-new Early Learning Center next to Barrington Middle School - Prairie Campus won't open its doors until Sept. 28.

For the first month of the school year, teachers and students will be asked to report to the old building in Carpentersville, where all the furniture and equipment remains, Superintendent Tom Leonard said.

Officials always knew Woodland was a ready-made backup option if the construction strike lasted too long. As close to complete as the new building was when the strike began, too much valuable time was ultimately lost in July, they said.

The new Early Learning Center is already closing in on its final stages of work, but the Sept. 28 opening date has been set both to allow time for a convenient move of equipment as well as to communicate a date the district could be absolutely certain of, Leonard said.