During a recent Parkway Board of Education meeting, community members passionately advocated for the establishment of a new early childhood center, emphasizing the urgent need for expanded educational opportunities for young learners.

Heather Gaynor, a parent and educator, opened the discussion by highlighting the community's strong support for the center, which has already been designed and awaits further action. She shared her personal experience with the existing early childhood program, noting that while her son thrived, many families lack access to similar opportunities. Gaynor stressed that without this expansion, achievement gaps will continue to widen, urging the board to prioritize the needs of families and students.

Megan Schultz, a Parkway resident and English learner program lead, echoed these sentiments, pointing out the growing multilingual learner population in the district. She argued that a centralized early childhood facility would provide essential language development support, ensuring that all children, particularly those from multilingual backgrounds, receive a strong educational foundation. Schultz emphasized that the current early childhood center is often at capacity, leaving families without adequate childcare options.

The speakers collectively underscored the importance of investing in early childhood education as a means to foster an inclusive and equitable learning environment. They called on the board to take decisive action to move forward with the construction of the new center, which they believe is crucial for the community's future and the success of its youngest learners.