Community center takes more steps toward accreditation

During her visit to the center's daycare facility last month, a state inspector expressed a desire to see completed playground and classroom surfacing, facility Director Chelsea Warriner said. The inspector held off on accreditation but promised to return at a later date.

Warriner said she is targeting mid May for that visit.

"We thought we could get accreditation before, but she jut wanted to see those last couple of things finished," Warriner said. "It will be perfect when she comes back."

The Community Center's board of directors began exploring the possibility of accreditation to subsidize the education and childcare of 10 to 14 additional preschoolers, bumping enrollment to around 30 in that age group.

Improvements to help secure accreditation have included updated restrooms, an additional classroom exit, regulation-height furnishings to better accommodate users, the creation of a glass wall to separate child childcare facility from the food pantry, and an updated playground that has a specific layering and and combination of rubber, mulch and dirt.

A new classroom would handle the expanded population.