Lansing board votes 6–1 to close Early Childhood Center after parents urge delay

The Lansing Board of Education voted 6–1 to approve a resolution to close the Lansing Early Childhood Center at 210 East Mary Street, a move administrators said is driven by extensive, costly facility repairs.

Parents and guardians packed the public-comment period to urge the board to delay action and explore alternatives. "If the decision was already made, why are families just now being asked for input?" said Kimberly Dossett during the meeting’s public-comment period, describing how the announced July 1 closure date left families scrambling for full‑time care. Other commenters described the center as an affordable, full‑time option that many working parents rely on and said staff members were already seeking other jobs.

District administration told the board the building needs roughly $5,000,000 in upgrades — including roof, HVAC, electrical and emergency systems — and that the vote is a legally required step to close an attendance center. Administration said the preschool program as it exists would move into the elementary school, while the district expects daycare capacity to be limited mainly to staff after consolidation. Officials said they are in discussions with the YMCA about a potential on‑site model to cover half‑day care needs but stressed there is no guarantee such an arrangement will be available.

Board members debated alternatives during more than an hour of discussion. One board member urged tabling the resolution to give families more time to plan and to pursue options such as raising tuition, soliciting donations or exploring partnerships; that motion failed. Supporters of the closure argued the district cannot absorb the cost of the building repairs without risking the broader budget and district programs.

The final roll call on the resolution recorded a 6–1 vote in favor of closure. The board also heard multiple accounts from parents about how the center’s closure would increase household childcare costs and displace staff and children. "Decisions like this don't just affect budgets — they affect children, families, and the future of this community," one parent told the board.

Next steps: the administration will implement the attendance‑center closure procedures required by statute, coordinate the relocation of the preschool program into district elementary spaces, and continue discussions with external providers (including the YMCA) about daycare options for families. The board noted that additional logistical details — including what services will be guaranteed for the affected families — remain unresolved and will be further addressed by the administration.