Charlottesville City Schools lays out Early Learning Center plan, proposes ‘Colts’ branding and expanded supports

Charlottesville City Schools officials presented plans for a consolidated Early Learning Center, describing a program identity, staffing and operational changes they say will make preschoolers “kindergarten strong.” Dr. Korab, the presenter for the early-learning effort, said the new center will draw roughly 60 staff from existing preschool programs and expects about 200 enrolled students this year.

The presentation included branding and practical details: staff proposed the mascot “Colts” and the colors orange and black to align visually with Charlottesville’s Black Knights identity. "We are gonna be a staff of approximately 60 people," the presenter said, and noted the center will consolidate services now spread across six sites.

Officials emphasized curriculum and staff development as central goals. The team framed “kindergarten strong” as the outcome above basic kindergarten readiness and said this year’s professional learning will focus on early-literacy practices grounded in the science of reading. The presenter explained that pre-K teachers had not been included in earlier state literacy training, so the division is enrolling pre-K staff in an "early childhood letters" course to align phonemic and phonological approaches.

Operations and family supports were also discussed. Staff said VMDO is developing both interim and permanent schematic options, while a separate 40–50 page site-massing report by Mitchell and Matthews (commissioned earlier in the Oak Lawn evaluation) provides scenarios for an alternate campus. Staff told the board the Oak Lawn parcel acquired from UVA appears usable but smaller than other options; design decisions and funding will determine whether Oak Lawn or the current Walker campus becomes permanent. Board members were told that, in any scenario, the anticipated interim period at Walker is roughly three years while permanent plans are finalized.

To help working families, the division has an MOU with the YMCA to provide aftercare at the consolidated Early Learning Center. The presenter said this is possible because consolidation reduces the licensing burden of operating preschool at six separate sites. "The YMCA MOU for aftercare is already in the works to start next year," staff said.

Staff also highlighted inclusion and sensory supports for young children. They plan shared teacher resources, a common letter-sound queuing system to preserve vertical alignment with kindergarten, and multiple sensory or regulation spaces in the interim Walker site so students can access calming spaces across the building rather than a single, isolated office.

Next steps include further schematic design work by VMDO, continued coordination with city planning on Oak Lawn, and additional community engagement about program details and enrollment criteria. Staff repeatedly asked the board for patience on timing tied to funding and design; they indicated clearer decisions about site timing could come by early next calendar year.