(Atlantic) The Ann Wickman Child Development Center in Atlantic is facing a new challenge.
A new location is needed for the infant room by December 15th. YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes explains the current space is will be utilized by the Atlantic Community School District. “Right now we have an agreement with them that was signed I think in 2013. They let us use the infant room at the early learning center and we share the gym, which is theirs, and we let them use our playground. That was the agreement way back then and if either party wanted to get out of it there was a process to give some notice. What they’ve done is given us notice that they need that infant room classroom back so they can put three-year-olds in it.”
Haynes says the letter from the school stated an increase in special ed needs for the three-year-old population is what necessitated an extra preschool room.
The YMCA Board is in the process of trying to determine other options for infants. Suggestions are welcome. “Haven’t come up with anything yet, but we are trying to talk through it. Our issue is we have 21 infants that are in that room right now. We have another 17-18 that are on the way in the next six months that we’ve already committed to to come in. Besides that we’ve got another 30 or so that are on a waiting list for the other rooms that are in the Wickman building.”
Haynes describes the requirements of a space as ‘more stringent’ when it comes to state licensing standards for infants compared to older kids.
