LYNN — Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Tutwiler has requested that the city purchase a soon-to-be-vacant early childhood education building to expand the public school district’s facilities.
In a meeting of the City Council Public Property and Parks Committee Tuesday, Tutwiler explained that the district has a lack of space for its younger students, and that the Jack Robinson Child Care Center, currently owned and operated by Lynn Economic Opportunity Inc. (LEO), could help relieve that problem when the organization vacates it in the coming years.
“Clear in the (Americans with Disabilities Act) is the fact that children between the ages of 3 and 5 who need special education services must be provided those services by the public school district and the community in which they live,” Tutwiler said. “We have experienced increases of students who qualify over the past 10-plus years, and case in point, we’ve opened two new pre-K classrooms in each of the last three years.”
Tutwiler said that LEO is currently in the process of building a new child care facility, which is expected to be completed by 2025.
The building includes five classrooms, office space, common space, a food-preparation area and an outdoor playground. Tutwiler said that he has toured the property with representatives of the Inspectional Services Department and they determined that it would be well-suited for the district’s needs and would be appropriate to be licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care.
Currently, some young students in the Lynn Public Schools attend classes in external spaces, such as the Lynn YMCA, where Tutwiler said the district has leased spaces that are not otherwise used during the day because students are in class.
The committee voted unanimously to authorize the mayor to write a letter to LEO expressing interest in the property and requesting the right of first refusal when it becomes available.
“We all understand the issues and challenges getting kids into classrooms throughout the city,” said Committee Chair and Ward 2 Councilor Rick Starbard. “There are a lot of young families in that … neighborhood, so I think that any space we can get in that area would be welcome.”
