SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Kristin Esterberg said Assemblywoman Jenne’s support was instrumental in moving the project forward.
“The new SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center will be a welcoming space designed to accommodate the needs of our littlest students,” President Esterberg said. “We are so proud to see this project come to fruition and hope that this space will support the youngest members of our community and help foster the next generation of our Potsdam family.”
“SUNY Potsdam is fortunate to have such a strong supporter in our assemblymember, Addie Jenne, and we are grateful for her leadership,” she added.
Assemblywoman Jenne took part in the groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site Tuesday morning. Funding for the project was included in the 2014-15 state budget.
“Child care is an investment in our future. It’s an integral part of our economy. Our economy doesn’t work if you don’t have a safe, reliable, high quality place to leave your child while you’re working, so you can focus on your job.” Assemblywoman Jenne said. “We’re taking care of our kids for today, but we’re training our workforce for tomorrow. That is extremely important for the long-term health of our region.”
She reiterated the childcare center has a dual purpose. "It provides needed child care for the campus community, students and employees alike, as well as community members, enabling them to either obtain their degree or be successful in the workforce,” according to Assemblywoman Jenne, a mother of two elementary school-age children.
SUNY Potsdam undergraduates and high school students from St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Education Careers Academy, housed on the college campus, also take advantage of internship and practicum opportunities at the child care center.
“The SUNY Potsdam Childcare Center is used as a teaching and learning environment to train future educators and child care providers. It’s a great program for the Potsdam community and a tremendous learning experience for those future teachers,” Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.
“The facility in Merritt Hall that has been used for decades was revamped to become the child care facility, and staff has been creative in adapting it to fit the center’s needs. But this new building is long overdue and will provide amenities for every age group, from infants to school-age children,” she noted.
The new space will offer improved educational and developmental resources, including two outdoor and two indoor play areas for children to enjoy in all seasons.
Assemblywoman Jenne, a member of the state Assembly’s Child Care Work Group, said quality, affordable child care is a critical component that allows parents to go to college or gain and maintain employment while balancing their parenting responsibilities.
In its new location on Outer Main Street across from The Crane School of Music, the 13,000-square-foot SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center building will offer easy access for busy parents to drop off and pick up their children without driving through campus.
The new facility will feature seven classrooms specially designed for every age group served by the center, each with dedicated children’s bathrooms and special rooms as needed, such as sleeping spaces for infants, a changing area for toddlers, a project space for pre-school-age children and a laundry area.
SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center Director Lori Moulton said that the new facility will slightly increase capacity as well. The child care center currently has 98 slots.
Ms. Moulton said she was extremely appreciative of Assemblywoman Jenne's work to secure funding for the project.
"Thank you for allowing the SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center to have a new facility to continue our mission, which is to serve the child care needs of SUNY students, faculty and staff, New York State employees and the greater community, as well as to provide educational experiences for SUNY students,” Ms. Moulton added.
A day care center opened in 1987 at Merritt Hall under contract with Potsdam Day Care to serve SUNY Potsdam faculty, staff and students. The SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center, Inc., was incorporated in 1990 and broke ties with Potsdam Day Care Center.
The center is based on the philosophy that each child has unique, individual needs and developmental patterns. Experiences planned for the children promote the positive development of emotional, social, intellectual and physical abilities. Curriculum planning focuses on each child’s need to grow and enhances the development of a positive self-image.
Enrollment is on a space-available basis with priority given to SUNY students, faculty, and staff. There is currently a waiting list.
“I’m optimistic this new space will offer greater efficiency for the program and hopefully it will inspire even more students to consider early childhood education and child care as careers,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.
“It’s also so important to have quality, affordable child care options for parents wanting to go back to school and further their education. We also know the knowledge that their children are well cared for provides parents with the opportunities they need to be able to go back to school to complete their educations and achieve their career goals,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, left center, and SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Kristin Esterberg, center, toss dirt in the air during a groundbreaking ceremony for SUNY Potsdam's new Child Care Center. (Jason Hunter/SUNY Potsdam Photo)
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, left, hugs SUNY Potsdam Childcare Center Director Lori Moulton during a groundbreaking ceremony for SUNY Potsdam's new Child Care Center. Also pictured is Mouton's granddaughter, Raelynn Gushea, 8 months.
From left, Bette & Cring Project Manager Joseph Cring, Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, Bette & Cring Assistant Project Manager Richard Cring, SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Kristin Esterberg, SUNY Potsdam Assistant Facilities Program Coordinator Roy Smith, Kristofer Norrell, 7, Raelynn Gushea, 8 months, SUNY Potsdam Childcare Center Director Lori Moulton, SUNY Potsdam Assistant Vice President for Facilities Andy Martin, Childcare Center Board President Roberta Greene, Child Care Center pre-school teacher Brenda Kuiken.
Construction is underway on the SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center board members, employees and parents during a groundbreaking ceremony for a new building on Tuesday morning on the SUNY Potsdam campus.
A day care center opened in 1987 at Merritt Hall under contract with Potsdam Day Care to serve SUNY Potsdam faculty, staff and students. The SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center, Inc., was incorporated in 1990 and broke ties with Potsdam Day Care Center.
The center is based on the philosophy that each child has unique, individual needs and developmental patterns. Experiences planned for the children promote the positive development of emotional, social, intellectual and physical abilities. Curriculum planning focuses on each child’s need to grow and enhances the development of a positive self-image.
Enrollment is on a space-available basis with priority given to SUNY students, faculty, and staff. There is currently a waiting list.
“I’m optimistic this new space will offer greater efficiency for the program and hopefully it will inspire even more students to consider early childhood education and child care as careers,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.
“It’s also so important to have quality, affordable child care options for parents wanting to go back to school and further their education. We also know the knowledge that their children are well cared for provides parents with the opportunities they need to be able to go back to school to complete their educations and achieve their career goals,” Assemblywoman Jenne said.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, left center, and SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Kristin Esterberg, center, toss dirt in the air during a groundbreaking ceremony for SUNY Potsdam's new Child Care Center. (Jason Hunter/SUNY Potsdam Photo)
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, left, hugs SUNY Potsdam Childcare Center Director Lori Moulton during a groundbreaking ceremony for SUNY Potsdam's new Child Care Center. Also pictured is Mouton's granddaughter, Raelynn Gushea, 8 months.
From left, Bette & Cring Project Manager Joseph Cring, Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, Bette & Cring Assistant Project Manager Richard Cring, SUNY Potsdam President Dr. Kristin Esterberg, SUNY Potsdam Assistant Facilities Program Coordinator Roy Smith, Kristofer Norrell, 7, Raelynn Gushea, 8 months, SUNY Potsdam Childcare Center Director Lori Moulton, SUNY Potsdam Assistant Vice President for Facilities Andy Martin, Childcare Center Board President Roberta Greene, Child Care Center pre-school teacher Brenda Kuiken.
Construction is underway on the SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with SUNY Potsdam Child Care Center board members, employees and parents during a groundbreaking ceremony for a new building on Tuesday morning on the SUNY Potsdam campus.
