The Salt River Early Childhood Education Center’s (ECEC) long-awaited expansion project, which took over two years to plan and build, was unveiled on May 1 for a grand opening “blooming” ribbon cutting ceremony.

Originally built in 1998, the facility was about 53,000 square feet. It was a single level building with seven individual single-story buildings attached in a radial pattern.

The new expansion includes two main complexes with an additional 5,200 square feet, one-story expansion to Building A, along with two additional classrooms. A 12,000 square foot, two-story addition was added to Building B, which is made up of offices, a break room and a meeting space. The expansion project was built by Maydall Construction.

ECEC assistant program manager Barbara White said the project was quite a process. “We had multiple meetings with the architects. We had Community members and policy council members looking at the different designs and plans that were presented to us, until we could get a vote for the final design,” said White.

The project goals included increasing services for children and guardians and to recruit and retain a highly effective workforce. The project increased services for children by adding six classrooms to the facility. The new meeting rooms filled a need for guardians and parents to gather to talk.

The agenda for the program included a prayer offered by Council member and Salt River Schools Board member Deanna Scabby and a land acknowledgment written by Angela Garcia Lewis and read by Mandaree Garcia. It also included tours of the new space.

“It is my honor and privilege to welcome you here today for our ribbon cutting of this amazing facility and the final completion of our construction project at this ceremony,” said ECEC leader Michelle Kuamoo in her welcoming address.

Representatives from the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe and the Gila River Indian Community were also present for the ceremony. 

May 1 was also International Workers Day. Kuamoo took time to honor everyone involved in the process of making the ECEC expansion a reality.

CCDF Program Manager Pamela Prasher gave special recognition to SRPMIC Council members, the Education Board, the ECEC Policy Council and Superintendent Sheryl Houston for their leadership.

“It is difficult to be in a leadership role, and to kind of help us guide our vision here with the Community’s input,” said Prasher.

“We want to thank you for of what you do so that we can move forward with our plans in the Community, for this community.”

Council member Jacob Butler briefly spoke about an art piece he is having installed alongside the expansion. Butler was chosen for the project before he had been voted onto Council.

In the middle of a presentation, a large group from Head Start classrooms arrived and filled the room to sing a good morning song in unison.

After the kids departed, it was time for the official ribbon cutting. With the ribbon cut, ECEC staff offered tours in groups of five people to take a look and learn about the new additions.