EATON — A nonprofit with a mission to support families with education-based childcare is constructing a new facility on Nation Avenue in Eaton near the Preble County Fairgrounds, incorporating what was once the Grange Hall.
Preble Mini Minds is set to open this fall, with a curriculum designed to support kindergarten readiness, according to a press release on the organization’s website.
“If you look at the data from the Ohio Department of Education, 42 percent of incoming kindergarteners in Ohio are demonstrating readiness for school. We see this as a problem for our young people and our future workforce in Preble County,” Vicky Fanberg, vice president of development for Preble Mini Minds said in the release. “Our focus is on providing early childhood education that partners with families for kindergarten readiness and future success.”
According to the release, Preble Mini Minds will offer a comprehensive learning environment that uses play and age-appropriate curriculum to further the emotional, intellectual and physical development of children. It will employ 20 educators and will have classrooms for 136 young learners, including infants through preschool students, with before and after-school care for children up to 12 years of age.
The organization is currently working with local employers to identify needs in the county, according to the release.
“A survey by Groundwork Ohio, a nonprofit public policy research organization, found 40 percent of Ohio working parents have cut back on their work hours to care for their children. The same survey found two-thirds of Ohio moms with children under five who do not currently work full-time say they would go back to work if they had access to high-quality and affordable child care,” the release noted.
“We have identified a real need in the county,” Fanberg said in the release. “Our focus on enrichment and active play will help children be prepared for kindergarten and with the mental development to succeed in life. We want our efforts to help parents, local employers, and ultimately children to have bright, productive futures in Preble County.”
The new Preble Mini Minds facility is designed for safety and learning, according to officials. The building will incorporate the latest in security features while providing a warm and welcoming environment. Students will enjoy a park-like outdoor play area complete with learning centers. The building will also pay homage to the county’s agricultural heritage by incorporating the stage and wood floor from the former Grange Hall on the building site.
Wilcon Construction and Pinnacle Architects are managing the new construction, according to the release.
For more information, visit www.prebleminiminds.org.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
