{"id":1686,"date":"2012-06-03T13:14:18","date_gmt":"2012-06-03T13:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=1686"},"modified":"2012-06-05T18:40:34","modified_gmt":"2012-06-05T18:40:34","slug":"children-matter-finally-much-needed-improvements-to-the-emeryville-child-development-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=1686","title":{"rendered":"Children Matter: Much Needed Improvements Coming to Emeryville Child Development Center"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by Anissa Thompson<\/p><\/div>\n

For nearly two years, an advisory committee has been working with the city to develop and strengthen the program of the Emeryville Child Development Center (ECDC). <\/a> A consultancy group skilled in early education was recently hired to assess the Center\u2019s work, and the results (available on ECDC website) showed need for improvement in many areas.\u00a0 The Center\u2019s director immediately began efforts to upgrade the staff development program, to restructure administrative positions, and to hire new teachers.\u00a0 Two teachers have retired recently, and a first round of interviews for their replacements has been completed.\u00a0 The hiring of three new teachers and a supervisor awaits City Council approval.\u00a0 The Center\u2019s director, new to the job herself, is managing sweeping changes.\u00a0 Fortunately, she\u2019s getting strong support from the advisory committee, city staff, and the City Council.\u00a0 All this reflects a growing awareness of the value of the program to our community.<\/p>\n

ECDC is housed in a beautiful building.\u00a0 The families of the children who attend are strongly connected to the program and its teachers.\u00a0 ECDC has the potential for becoming an excellent, relationship-based program that will help bring children, families, staff, and community together.\u00a0 Emeryville is one of the few cities in our area to try to offer this kind of service.\u00a0 As a member of the advisory board, I hope that our local business community and others will recognize the importance of ECDC and of supporting children and families in the city.\u00a0 State cuts are diminishing the Center\u2019s ability to enroll children whose families need financial support, and one of the advisory board\u2019s goals is to develop a scholarship program to fill this need.\u00a0 Can we make this a reality?<\/p>\n

ECDC is a program filled with possibilities, and I\u2019m excited about its future.\u00a0 We are at a pivotal point in the Center\u2019s history, and we need the support of the whole community to help it reach its full potential.\u00a0 And if the Center succeeds, the city will be a better, more vibrant place to live.\u00a0 Remember, total number of birth-to-five children living in Emeryville at the last census:<\/p>\n