Skelly Early Childhood Center’s Grand Opening

Mayor Kathy Taylor and Councilor Bill Martinson spoke at last Thursday’s grand opening of the Skelly Early Childhood Educational Center. The new center will prepare more than 100 preschool-age children for elementary school.

Community Action Project (CAP) of Tulsa County in partnership with Family & Children’s Services operates the new center, located at 8811 E. 31st St., and is geared toward helping low-income families achieve economic success.

The center will provide 12 classrooms to serve more than 100 young children, birth through four years of age. Children enrolled in CAP’s program will start their first day of class in the new facility on August 11.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the City of Tulsa, along with state funding (as part of the State of Oklahoma’s Pilot Early Childhood Program) and private donors helped make the new Skelly Early Childhood center a reality.

“This is a great example of public/private partnerships working together,” said Mayor Taylor, “to make sure our children have the very best start in life. I appreciate the hard work of our City Councilors as they prioritized needs and worked through the CDBG process to provide funds for this center. I’m thankful for the councilors’ courage and leadership.”

CAP of Tulsa County will open two additional early childhood education centers this year. Rosa Parks is slated to open in September (under the direction of Union Public Schools) and Eugene Field’s new center will open in October.