Early Childhood Development Center to close May 31

What was once a school for the South Park Independent School District, Lamar University's Early Childhood Development Center has become a university staple.  

After a 25-year run, however, the center will close its doors May 31 following the spring semester.  

"Lamar University students, staff, faculty and community members have been blessed with the best care and instruction available anywhere in the area for 25 years," Hollis Lowery-Moore, Dean of the College of Education and Human Development, said. "It's been a joyous addition to lots of lives."

The Early Childhood Development Center, although an auxiliary service of the university, provides daycare for LU students with children, as well as other community members.

ECDC Director, Margaret Swope, said that because the center is not an essential function of the university they have always been able to keep tuition costs very low.  

As a result of severe budget cuts, however, tuition for the center has been raised and attendance is down. While the center has the capability of caring for 140 students, it currently has approximately 100 students enrolled.

"We would have to raise tuition and fees about 35 percent to continue functioning," Swope said. "We didn't want to lower our standards just to remain within the budgets."

Lowery-Moore said the majority of universities which are able to keep their early childhood centers active during these economically-challenging times rely on grant money. She said Lamar has no grant writer, therefore the university does not have the capability or the resources to keep the center open.

"We set a goal of looking at everything very carefully — studying numbers and figures," Lowery-Moore said. "The decision was made Nov. 15 to close the center in May. This most difficult, purely economic decision makes all of us very sad."

Lowery-Moore and Swope both said this will give current employees a full semester to do their homework and research other job options in the area.  

"Everyone on campus will miss the Big Red pep rallies at the center, the Halloween visits from the costumed children, and the many other wonderful opportunities provided by a campus child development center," Lowery-Moore said.

"Although the center is closing May 31, the dedicated teachers and staff will continue to give the same excellent service to the children until the very last day.     Nothing will be packed up and no schedule changes will be made while the students are present. All of the closing activities will occur in June."    

For more information, contact Lowery-Moore at hollis.moore@lamar.edu or Swope at msswope@lamar.edu.