Closed Mecosta County Elementary School Reopened as Childhood Ce - Northern Michigan's News Leader

Eastwood Elementary in Big Rapids was closed down last year, due to budget cuts and a lack of students.

Now, the Big Rapids School District and the Mecosta Osceola Intermediate School District have reopened the building as an early childhood center.

We were there tonight for the grand opening and a tour of the new venture.

Karen Roy, on of the leaders of the project said, "We just thought, wow, what a great opportunity to utilize one of our community resources and then be able to bring all of our community partners, as well as putting all early childhood services in one location."

This is the first early childhood center in the state that's a collaboration between the ISD and School District.

There will now be programs for families with children age 0-5, with the goal of giving children in the Mecosta/Osceola Community a strong educational foundation.

Curtis Finch, Jr., Ph.D. is the Superintendent of MOISD and said, "If we can get a jump on these kids earlier, give them a better shot at their education younger, we know they'll do better in school when it comes time to plug into the regular K-12 system."

All the programs at the early childhood center are individually funded adding no extra cost to students.