“It may be iffy semantics to call a ceremony marking the start of renovations to an existing structure a “groundbreaking,” but if there’s a better way to describe eight, hard-hatted, spade-wielding preschoolers and speechifying school officials, let Noah Webster sort it out.

From left: Sam Miklovic, 4; Jacob Hydar, 4; and Gwendalyn Rensing, 3, participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Affton School District Early Childhood Education Center renovation at 9832 Reavis Road. photo by Diana Linsley

On Dec. 6, school board members past and present, state officials, parents of prospective Affton School District students and friends of Affton schools gathered at 9832 Reavis Road to inaugurate the much anticipated, 22,000-square-foot Affton Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) project.

Just past the reception room where Affton’s Cougar mascot mingled with guests and officials, yawned the concrete cavern that architectural firm Kromm, Rikimaru & Johansen (KRJ Inc.) and contractor Interior Construction Services (ICS) will craft into classrooms, meeting areas and utility spaces.

“This building has been well-cared for,” said School Board President Michael McNeil. “It was built in the late 1960s; it’s far from near the end of its useful life. We were fortunate to find a building instead of having to build from scratch, which would have been much more expensive.”

The ECEC price tag is around $2.5 million, paid for by existing district funds.

McNeil told the 50 or so people assembled that the focus of the board has been early childhood education and looking for the right place and right time to “do something right.”

“They have been passionate about it,” he said. “Kids are important. We know that at (the early childhood, birth to 5 years old) stage of life, what goes on in their lives makes a big difference. What we do now will have an impact 20 years later.”

Among the former district leaders who attended the occasion were former Superintendent Gay Tompkins – who current Superintendent Steve Brotherton noted “was superintendent when (his) kids were attending Affton schools – longtime executive secretary Mary Ann Schiller, who retired last year, and State Rep. Scott Sifton, a former board member.

Brotherton said the ECEC will have a positive effect not only on the district, but on Affton as a community.

“This is an investment in the community,” he said. “We are working toward continuous improvement and creating good opportunities for our students.”

Brotherton noted the project is the end result of three months of work by a community-based, board-led committee of about 40 individuals.

“This is really awesome,” said Dawn Chase, whose daughter Carleigh, a current early childhood student, was one of the day’s groundbreakers. “She’s gotten a lot help.”

“This is going to be wonderful for the whole community,” said Nicole Herbst, another district mom. “I actually attended the (old St. George) early childhood center. It is getting old.”

Other children who turned ceremonial dirt at the groundbreaking were Brinley Carr, Kadon Hicks, Jacob Hydar, Joe Levinson, Sam Miklovic, Gwendalyn Rensing and Elizabeth White.

The center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012.”

Printed in the South County Times on December 9, 2012

Article by Joe Leicht