Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Launches Barrington Early Learning Center

Barrington 220 now has a vibrant new Early Learning Center (ELC) with many unique and educational additions. The district had been using the old Woodland Junior High School in Carpentersville, but it was poorly suited for preschoolers.

The new facility is truly tailored to children aged three to five.  The construction includes larger windows that start lower to the ground and child-sized toilets that promote accessibility and independence.

Design was a large part of the undertaking when the project began. National experts and parents came together to help reach a final plan.

That plan includes an emphasis on natural light throughout the center through larger windows and skylights.

The facility has what are called 'villages' which are clusters of four classrooms with a clear goal in mind.

"The villages are patterned after the four seasons; each classroom in the cluster of four will represent a different season, both in theme and color to educate the children," said Brian Battle, school board president.

"The low windows are also meant to allow the children to connect with nature, and the clusters are designed to give the children more of a feeling of community," Battle said.

The center will serve children who have either cognitive or physical special needs as well as those who are identified for the at-risk preschool program mandated by the state.

Class sizes will range from 10 to 20 children.  Currently there are 240 preschoolers enrolled in the program.

"This has been a dream that has been 20 years in the making," said Dr. Tom Leonard, superintendent of schools.

"The board had vision and the creative commitment and insistence of fiscal responsibility to bring us to today; lifelong learning starts in this kind of facility," Leonard added.

School board member Cara Richardson said "ELC to me means every learner counts, and this space is the type of space needed for excellence in education to begin."

"The new center is the final planned update for schools in the Barrington 220 district, so now all of our schools are in solid shape for the future," said Battle.

Barb Romano is the principal of the new school. 

"Our mission is to ensure every child here has the tools to become our future leaders. In addition to education, we also reinforce kindness, dignity and respect.  I feel blessed we have been trusted to give these children the skills they need to grow into fine adults," said Romano.

The 38,000 square foot facility sits adjacent to the Prairie Middle School campus on Dundee Road in Barrington.