Early Childhood Education Center to Close in June

BRUNSWICK COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S ON-CAMPUS LAB PRESCHOOL IS CLOSING ITS DOORS

Bolivia, NC – Because of a persistent budget deficit, the College is discontinuing operations at its Five-star Early Childhood Education Center as of June 10, 2016, said spokesperson London Schmidt.

This comes after the College’s Board of Trustees approved an administrative recommendation to close the facility at its monthly meeting March 17.

The closure was a financial decision to remove persistent budget shortfall. “Board members have been examining this issue for many months and the decision to close this facility was extremely difficult,” said Alan Holden, who serves as chair of the board. “In reviewing the overall operations of the college, we determined that our resources must focus on improving learning outcomes and the academic achievement of our students as well as addressing evolving workforce demands.”

Human Resources Director Nicole Williams noted there are 7 jobs — 5 full-time — affected and College leadership will be looking at ways to “minimize the impact for these employees.”

“The College acknowledges and recognizes the exceptional Early Childhood Education Center staff, management, and the assistance of Smart Start of Brunswick County who provided wonderful pre-school education in Brunswick County, as well as professional assistance to BCC students,” President Susanne Adams said.

The Center, which started in the 2010, currently provides daycare services for 31 three and four-year-old preschoolers.

The College plans to work with parents and other community daycare providers to find alternatives before the program closes in June.

“It’s our understanding that other childcare facilities in our community have vacancies,” Adams shared. “We anticipate the closure will increase demand for their services and the community will not be underserved.”

According to a recent survey conducted by Brunswick Community College, BCC is one of 7 colleges in North Carolina to move to shutter its daycare program in recent years.

Closing the Early Childhood Education Center will not impact the thriving Early Childhood Education Program at Brunswick Community College.

For additional information, please contact London Schmidt at 910.755.7393 or schmidtl@brunswickcc.edu.