Early Childhood Center in Barrington takes shape
After more than a year of construction, and months of deliberation and financial planning, Barrington Unit District 220's early childhood specialists realized a long held dream on Friday: they started setting up classrooms.
With construction crews finishing up around them, teachers and administrators started moving into the district's $11.7 million Early Learning Center, adjacent to Prairie Middle School Campus on Dundee Road in Barrington.
More than 230 students from throughout District 220 arrive for school on Tuesday.
“We're ecstatic that this day has come, said Principal Barbara Romano. “We're over the moon.
The child-friendly school is divided into “villages named after the four seasons, so as to promote smaller learning communities, Romano said. The Spring village features green tiled floor, while the Summer village has golden tiles in the center of its cluster of four classrooms.
Both villages are in the front of the building and look out on one of two handicapped accessible playgrounds and natural garden landscaping. Classrooms include those for students needing special education, while others are blended, mixing students with special needs with children defined as at risk.
“I love all the natural light that streams into the classroom, said teacher Margie McAndrew. “It brings the outside in. I'm putting my science table right near the windows, so we can incorporate lots of nature projects. The setting is just ideal.
Back in the Winter village, teacher Shannon Leeds marveled at the new technology available to her students, from the touch screen computer in her room, to the Interactive SMART Board in the library and Interactive SMART tables that are coming.
“I do a lot with technology, Lees said. “It's so visual and interactive. It's just stimulating and motivating for the kids to learn.
Beyond the traditional classroom, there is a gross motor room for occupational therapists to work with youngsters. Their adapted tricycles are in place, but other pieces of equipment, including walkers and standers, and a hammock to soothe them, are waiting to be unpacked.
The center also has speech pathologists, social workers, psychologists, physical therapist and a school nurse on its staff of 63, which also includes teachers and aides.
District 220 Superintendent Tom Leonard observed the progress Friday, marveling at all of the building's features like toilets, sinks and windows built to scale for preschoolers.
“We've never had a facility where, as the architects like to say, ‘form follows function,' Leonard said. “A lot of things were built tailoring the needs of 3-5 year olds.
He added the building came in under budget and would have been completed by the start of school, had not the construction strike halted work for most of July.
Tours of the new building and a formal dedication ceremony will take place beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, before members of District 220 convene their school board meeting in its Family Center.