ECEAP-Minnehaha-firstday

Thank you to our amazing ESD 112 and Children Northwest staff who worked hard to ready the new Minnehaha Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) Center for its Grand Opening October 12.  With just a few short months to turn the vacant facility into a vibrant early learning center that would house young children, staff rolled up their sleeves and got to work. “It was very much a team effort,” said Kristi Baker, Executive Director for SWCCC. “I can’t think of a department here at the ESD that wasn’t involved.”  Facilities staff knocked down walls to prepare the space to meet requirements, custodial staff helped scrub, paint, and do lots of other prep work to get the facility ready in time, technology staff hooked up computers and phones and communications staff prepared signage. Risk Management staff evaluated the space to make sure everything was safe and business staff negotiated the lease on the building. And early learning staff helped with purchasing, classroom set up and anything else that was needed to get the center ready so quickly.

The new center serves 60 qualifying students and may expand to serve up to 120 in the future.