New child development center expected to be finished by end of the month

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

Construction is continuing on a new child development center, and Tribal Engineering & Community Development Department Manager Ryan Webb said he hopes it will be completed by the end of March.

Systems were being started up in late February, Webb said, and would take around three or four weeks to complete.

Tribal Council approved a contract for construction of the building in late 2023 and had originally hoped to open it by last December.

“The new building will serve the current Early Childhood Education Program, which currently provides center-based and home-based services,” Education Department Manager Angela Fasana said. “The home-based program serves expectant mothers as well as mothers of young children. Overall, the center-based services will provide services for babies as young as 12 weeks to 5 years of age.”

The 26,000-square-foot structure will include 12 classrooms, outdoor play areas, community room, large commercial kitchen, 16 administrative offices, break room, restrooms and other support areas.

Early Childhood Education Program Manager Dawn Doar said the new building, “Allows our entire program team to finally operate under one roof, enhancing collaboration and efficiency, as we were previously spread across multiple buildings due to space limitations…Our offerings include home-based services and center-based services for infants and toddlers (prenatal to age 3), center-based programs for children ages 3 to 5, six existing classrooms and a planned seventh classroom, set to open in the new school year starting in September.”

Currently, the program serves 101 children, with a capacity to expand to 110 in the upcoming school year.

“We have a dedicated team of 50-plus staff members committed to providing high-quality early learning experiences,” Doar said.

Funding for the child development center came from a combination of American Rescue Plan Act monies, grants from foundations and Tribal dollars.

Contact Doar at 503-879-2287 for more information.