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Partners unveil $16 million plan to convert shuttered Vallejo school into RISE Vallejo early learning center
Summary
1st 5 Solano, the Solano County Office of Education and Child Start said they purchased a former elementary school in Vallejo and will redevelop it as RISE Vallejo, a co-located early learning center with 15 classrooms that will serve up to 300 children; project cost cited at $16 million and funding includes city, county, state, federal and philanthropic contributions.
1st 5 Solano and the Solano County Office of Education announced that they have purchased a shuttered elementary school in Vallejo to develop RISE Vallejo, an early learning center that will co-locate Head Start and private providers.
"We bought a school," Michelle Harris, executive director of 1st 5 Solano, told the board, outlining a project she said cost about $16,000,000 and will serve up to 300 children annually. Harris said the site will include 15 classrooms dedicated to early learning, partner classrooms, a library space in Wing E, and a multipurpose room sized to hold about 250 people. The City of Vallejo, Solano County, the state, federal sources and philanthropic donors all contributed to the capital package.
Juan Cisneros, executive director of Child Start, described design and safety features: age-appropriate bathrooms, nine intentionally designed playgrounds for different developmental needs, a second exit for fire-safety drills and a single-point lobby entry with a family navigator to connect parents to services. Under the project's operating model, private providers will pay a share of operating costs capped at no more than about 85% of what they would otherwise pay to rent or operate independently.
Officials said it took roughly five years of planning and multiple partners to assemble funding and program design; when complete, administrators expect the site to host Head Start on-site alongside private providers and partner services. Board members asked about timeline and library space; presenters said initial occupancy had been anticipated for October but was more likely in January.
