Newsletter

May 15 , 2006

	BOARD of DIRECTORS Darcy Andersen Quark, Inc Bruce Brady Lowes Distribution Center Ken Dugas McGee, Hearne & Paiz, LLP Rod Hottle United Way of Laramie County Rob Jarosh Hirst & Applegate Charaine Lucas LCCC Dr. Phyllis Sherard Sherard Family Trust Michelle St. Peters Early Head Start Tim Thorson Cheyenne LEADS Janet Tilton Western States Learning Corporation Richard Wiederspahn City of Cheyenne Early Education Partnership Majestic Building 1603 Capitol Avenue, Suite 414 Cheyenne,WY 82001 307.638.5004 Cheryl Selby Project Manager Consultant eepcheryl@yahoo.com Morgan O’Brien Campaign Director eep.morgan@yahoo.com		EEP Announces New Center Project
			The Early Education Partnership unveiled plans April 20th for a new 19,000 square foot early care and education facility. The announcement, hosted by First Lady Nancy Freudenthal at the Governor’s residence, was attended by 60 leaders from education, business and the community. Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jim McBride spoke of the need to increase the level of preparedness of our youngest citizens when they enter the school system. “It’s a very different world from a generation ago,” he said. “A stay-at-home parent, reading stories and playing counting games with young children, is no longer the norm.” EEP plans to address that need in partnership with Laramie County employers, who are looking to ease the hiring and retention challenges they face due to a lack of quality early care and education options for their employees. Currently, there are only about 3,300 available spaces to serve 6,500 pre-school aged children. "This is an excellent, synergistic project to meet the needs of families, businesses and our schools,” said Rick Kaysen,Vice President, Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power. Alliance construction will break ground on the facility in September, 2006, with operations scheduled to begin in August, 2007.

			What is the Early Education Partnership?
			EEP is a nonprofit partnership among businesses, community organizations, educators and other early childhood supporters to create and sustain a state-of-the-art early care and education facility to meet the demands of a changing workforce. An 18-hour, six-day-per-week facility, staffed by trained and degreed professionals, will assure the kindergarten readiness of its young charges. EEP will provide higher education professional development opportunities to assure the quality of its workforce, as well as provide internships for college-level students of early childhood education.