A Place to Call Home

When the rain began, it was like any other summer storm. The cool air was a welcome break from the oppressive heat and humidity. Most families were already tucked in for the evening. It was the night before Father’s Day.

The storm became fierce. Thunder rumbled through the sky and lightning struck–its target random.

Alarms sounded and fire erupted at Roosevelt Education Center, home to District 742′s Welcome Center, early childhood education program. Firefighters arrived on scene within minutes to battle the blaze overtaking the historic school building, and struggled with the fire all night long. But when dawn broke, ninety-five years of history was gone.

Veteran early childhood teacher, Tom Schnabel, along with many of his colleagues, watched the next day as the remaining walls crumbled to the ground. They shared a genuine sense of loss, not only for themselves but for the children who attended school there.

In the weeks that ensued, the healing process began with teachers, staff and District leadership meeting to find a temporary home for all programs until a new building could be built.

Fast forward four years. Although memories of that fateful night still remain vivid in Schnabel’s mind, the long wait has been rewarded.

Today Schnabel walks into a new building designed specifically for the needs of early childhood students. Quarryview Education Center in Waite Park is sleek, modern and home now to both early childhood and community education programming.

He thinks to himself, “It’s exciting being here. We have a place of our own that is designed for preschool and family education. It’s a great fit.”

Quarryview boasts modern technology in every classroom for student interaction and age-appropriate equipment for early childhood such as sinks and bathrooms. Even a centralized library with many windows for natural daylight gives students and families a place to sit and read together. There are two gyms for students to learn large and small motor skills and a playground and bike track for outdoor play.

The new facility is already a source of pride in the community. It’s a way to look forward to the future while closing the chapter on a painful loss.

Now, as new preschool children and their families come into school with smiles and giggles of excitement, Schnabel greets them with renewed enthusiasm and anticipation because they have a new, state-of-the-art, place to call home.