Parkway Schools will not build early childhood center due to traffic concerns
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The concerns about traffic from residents led to the Parkway School District announcing they would not be going forward with plans to build an early childhood center.
Linda Kocher tells First Alert 4, “We already have a lot of traffic with the middle school, and especially a dead ending down there, and the elementary school. A lot of people in the neighborhood have concerns over more cars being added.“
The center would have been built between Southwest Middle and Wren Elementary. People living in the community raised concerns about the loss of the green space and increased traffic.
The district is exploring immediate and long-term options releasing a statement that reads in part, “Despite these efforts, we have not found a clear, feasible alternative, and we have too many concerns to build on the Wren Avenue site. However, the needs are still there.”
According to the Parkway School district, there is a waitlist of hundreds of families wanting to enroll.
“Children who go to a high-quality early childhood setting are reading at higher levels. They are they have better social and emotional skills. They’re making friends better. They are just overall more successful in life,” says Deanna Finch.
Finch is the Executive Director at United 4 Children, the official early care and education resource service for Missouri. Finch tells First Alert 4, ”They are more likely to have access to screenings before kindergarten, so that their educators and their families can identify any delays that they may have and then get them the that they need.”
While the location in Manchester is on pause for now, Finch says there are resources available for parents looking for childcare, not only in Manchester but around the state. “We have a call center that is open seven days a week, and we can help locate a child care setting that is that meets the family’s needs. And we can do it within a radius.”
Families who need assistance can call 1-866-583-2392 to speak with one of United 4 Children’s Community Specialists or chat live on our website at United4Children.org/ECERR
The call center’s hours of operation are 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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