FIT FAQs: Child Development Center
At the FBC Annual Meeting on May 5, 2019, the congregation approved the recommendation by the FIT that First Baptist Church wind down CDC operations so that the facility is closed as of June 30, 2020.
Q: What is the current status of the CDC?
Enrollment:
September 1, 2019: 80 children and 34 teachers
March 1, 2020: 33 children and 17 teachers
Active Classrooms:
September 1, 2019: 10 classrooms
March 1, 2020: 5 classrooms
Q: What about the CDC teachers?
Because FBC was able to give CDC staff and families 14 months to prepare for the CDC’s closing:
some teachers have chosen to continue their education while continuing to teach in our CDC
some already have transferred to other child development centers
one is following her heart to pursue a life-long dream
some teachers and CDC families are making plans for infant & toddler care in teachers’ homes (and elsewhere) after the CDC closes
CDC Director Carolyn Roebuck continues to gather information about openings at other centers and is sharing it with staff.
Carolyn plans to stay with the CDC past the closing date to help with the post-closing tasks that will need to be done. She is currently pondering her options and is looking forward to spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Q: What is the plan for the empty classrooms?
Short-term:
Construction, which is building the new Australian Embassy, will rent some of the vacated CDC classrooms in Fall 2020 (generating income for FBC).
Carolyn Roebuck and Sarah Hodges Austin are working together on the task of emptying the classrooms as they close, preparing for occupation by Clark Construction and renovation in the FIT process.
Long-term:
All classrooms in the Sanctuary building are slated for renovation as part of the FIT project.