Little Flyers Academy Child Care Center Expansion
By Jacqueline Rehmann
This past September, Little Flyers Academy (LFA) Child Care Center, located at the Technical Center, welcomed its fall classes as usual. But there was something different, something new. In addition to the toddlers and pre-school aged children, two new classrooms welcomed infants and ‘twaddlers.’ It was the first expansion of the childcare center since it first opened its doors more than 15 years ago.
What happened to spur this expansion? Then Senior Corporate Officer Ron Esposito, responding to yet another request from members of the LFA Board of Directors for more space, authorized an employee survey to determine if there was a need for more child care slots and, if so, for what age groups.
The former Office of Enterprise Performance, now Organizational Excellence Group, lead the survey team effort for preparing, conducting, analyzing and reporting. Results quickly revealed a need for infant care up to age 18 months. Acting on the survey results, the survey team prepared a business case for the Senior Leadership Team to determine the most expedient and cost effective solution. The result was the present expansion, which extends the existing square footage of the center to include space for an infant room and a ‘twaddler’ room. (In case you are wondering, twaddlers are babies who are beginning to crawl or walk. As they get more mobile, they can get into mischief, and so they are promoted into the next classroom where their exuberance can be constructively channeled.)
John Fidler, a Tech Center architect who is experienced in the building of childcare facilities (he designed several while employed by the DOD), laid out a plan that addressed the classroom needs for safety, security and efficiency. It also increased storage space for the entire childcare center.
The result was two new bright and beautiful classrooms, and less clutter everywhere. The project began and finished on time. It took 6 months, which was the business case and architect’s original estimate.
Successful, ongoing fundraising sponsored by the LFA Board of Directors ensured that funding for needed supplies and furniture was available. Shortly after the rooms were completed, the State of NJ licensed the new classrooms. As with any construction project, it is easy to forget the growing pains. But there were plenty and they were addressed quickly and with aplomb, thanks to the capable leadership of LFA Director, Marcia Fox. Now, working moms and dads can do so without worry -their children are safe, close, and well cared for. It doesn’t get any better than that. |
