YMCA Unveils New School Readiness Space on Crown Street

The regulars at the basement bar at 66 Crown Street would be quite surprised by a look at their old haunt today – in place of stools and beer, there's a colorful pint-sized kitchen and a stack of tiny naptime cots.

After 5 months of renovation, the Meriden YMCA unveiled its new school readiness program site Thursday night, on the lower level of the Martin Gaffey Child Care Center. Once set up as one long corridor, the space is now divided into two separate classrooms that have different stations, including those for science, story time, playtime, naps, and art projects.

"We love it," said Kitty Reynolds, known better as "Miss Kitty," who teaches 4-year-olds in the space. Students have been in the center since January.

The YMCA took over the building, formerly known as the Independence Club, in 2007, and has been using the upper level for a Department of Social Services-funded daycare for 67 three- and four-year-olds.

In August 2010, the YMCA decided it would move the 49 three and four-year-olds in its School Readiness program from rented space at St. Rose Church, and began a $300,000 renovation project that reconfigured the space, including installing expansive windows and tiny toilets, and exposing brick. 

"We felt that we could make a state of the art childcare center down here," said Steve Markoja, operations director for the YMCA.

The program is funded by the state and charges parents fees on a sliding scale. There are 10 school readiness programs around the city that provide affordable preschool for children to prepare them socially and educationally to start kindergarten. Meriden is considered a "priority community" by the state and this year has received a $2,660,218 regular school readiness grant and $47,681 in a supplemental grant from the state. Funding for the renovation came from a loan from Connecticut Bank and Trust.

A number of city and state officials spoke at the opening, along with former state Sen. Tom Gaffey (D-Meriden) who worked to get funding from the state to buy the building. The center is named after his father, Martin Gaffey, who was known for his many years of community service in the city.  

"School readiness is such a lifeline,” said Rep. Catherine Abercrombie in her remarks.

"If I had the chance like this as a child, I might have moved beyond Mayor," joked Mayor Michael Rohde.