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Assistant Education Manager Amy Rhoads talks to Butler County Educational Service Center teachers from all over from Butler County during classroom management training Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the Early Learning Center in the former Central Academy building in Middletown.Click to enlarge

The old Central Academy school building has been renovated to house the The Butler County Educational Service Center Early Learning Center in Middletown.Click to enlarge

MIDDLETOWN — More than 200 children will come through the doors of Butler County's newest Early Learning Center next week. But before students return, community members are invited to take a tour of the new facility.

An open house is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 5, with the Butler County Educational Service Center's preschool programs inviting the community for tours and a dedication ceremony at the newly renovated building, which previously housed Central Academy.

The 30,000-square-foot center — one of 15 in the county that serve a combined 1,000 children — will have nine half-day and full-day classrooms and feature a medical/dental outreach center. The center will provide comprehensive education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services for preschool children, age three to five, and their families.

"We wanted to be able to consolidate our programs into one location so we could better utilize our services," said executive director Jon Graft.

The center will bring together classes that were previously housed in the Lincoln Center on Central Avenue, as well as in Rosa Parks and Highview elementary schools.

Renovations included cleaning, painting, new ceilings and a new sign. Air conditioning units were installed in every classroom and electricity upgraded to add a centralized kitchen. Landscaping and playground equipment rounded out the remodel.

The changes were made possible in partnership with the Butler County Health Consortium, the Middletown Area United Way and the Middletown City Schools.

Graft said the new facility has been "wonderful," finally allowing a space where the program's more than 110 staff members can meet.

"It's working out very, very well," he said.