Westfield Washington Schools held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the much-anticipated expansion of the Virginia F. Wood Early Learning Center and the renovation of the Monon Athletic Fields.
The event marks a significant milestone for the district and the rapidly growing city of Westfield.
The Virginia F. Wood Early Learning Center, which opened its doors in 2022, quickly reached full capacity, underscoring the need for expansion. The center has 330 children enrolled and provides essential services including daycare for district staff’s children starting at eight weeks old, speech therapy, developmental preschool, and a pre-kindergarten program called All Aboard. The expansion project will add 13 new classrooms, multi-purpose rooms, offices, and storage, as well as an enlarged playground enclosed at the center of the facility. Additionally, the administration wing will see a small office addition, and significant improvements will be made to the soccer, rugby, and baseball fields at the Monon Athletic Fields.
Rendering provided by Westfield Washington Schools
Superintendent Dr. Paul Kaiser expressed enthusiasm for the expansion.
“Today’s groundbreaking is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional educational opportunities for our youngest Rocks,” Kaiser said. “This expansion will allow us to better serve our community and accommodate the growing number of families choosing Westfield Washington Schools.”
Director of Early Learning Marci Derado highlighted the impact on the community.
“These early education programs have been a cornerstone for early childhood education in Westfield,” Derado said. “This expansion ensures that we can continue to meet the needs of even more children and provide a nurturing environment for them to thrive.”
Brice Johnson, client services manager for CORE Construction, played host to the event.
“As a father to a toddler, I know how important the early years of education are to our little ones,” Johnson said. “Our team at CORE is honored to help expand the thriving early learning environment at Westfield Washington Schools with this project. The design and construction team has been hard at work to prepare for this day and we can’t wait to see this project come together.”
The expansion and renovation projects come at a pivotal time for the district, which has seen an influx of 550 new students this school year alone. As Westfield continues to grow, the improvements to the Early Learning Center and athletic fields will play a crucial role in maintaining the district’s reputation as the top destination district in Indiana.
Photos provided by Westfield Washington Schools