By Brittany Harlow, Contributing Writer
The Broken Arrow Public Schools (BAPS) student body isn’t the only population that’s grown over the last several years — so has the population of staff children.
By fall the district will transition the Arrow Springs Early Childhood Center (ECC) into its own dedicated Tiny Tiger location to make room for them all.
“We felt this was another way that the district could not only recruit, but also to retain staff,” BAPS Chief Technology Officer Ashley Bowser said. “The goal of the employee childcare was to provide them that resource, but at a reduced cost to their family. This year, we have five classrooms at the Arrow Springs ECC facility and our plan is to expand the number of classrooms next year. As a result, we needed more space.”
The Broken Arrow Board of Education voted recently to redistrict the Aspen Creek, Creekwood and Park Lane ECCs, adjusting the boundaries of all three centers due to the Arrow Springs closure.
Bowser said the change will not decrease their capacity to serve the district’s pre-kindergarten students.
“For the 2024-2025 school year we have moved the classrooms that were at Arrow Springs ECC to some of our elementary sites around the district,” Bowser said. “Opening up additional PK classrooms at our elementary sites has been something that our patrons have really liked taking advantage of.
“As a result of moving those Early Childhood classes out of Arrow Springs, we will now be able to offer a PK classroom at eight different elementary sites around the district.”
Bowser said the new flexibility will allow parents to send their young children to school closer to home, and families with multiple children in PK through fifth grade can attend school in the same building.
The district said the changes were explained to those affected at their “All Things Pre-K Night” in February.
“Families were receptive and value the options that they can take advantage of in the district,” Bowser said.
The Tiny Tigers Learning Center was launched within Arrow Springs ECC in August 2022. According to the district website, the center provides up to 10.5 hours of care for children ranging from infants to 3-year-olds during the school year at a rate comparable to other local providers.
You can learn more about the Tiny Tigers Learning Center here.
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