Madison College opened its new Early Learning Campus at its Goodman South Campus to provide childcare and train the next generation of early childhood educators.
On Jan. 15, Madison College unveiled its new Early Learning Campus in the old fire station next to its Goodman South Campus. The new building, coupled with its early childhood education program, will allow for much-needed childcare for its students while they pursue their studies. The Early Learning Campus is planned to officially open on Jan. 20, serving up to 85 children Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
(Photo by Omar Waheed)
“This new facility couldn’t come at a more important time for many families,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “It costs more to put two young kids in child care than it does to pay for the average rent and mortgage. And even if folks can find and afford child care, families may be waitlisted for months due to space and lack of child care options.”
The opening of the new childcare center comes at a perfect time, Gov. Evers said. He noted the increased costs many face due to federal funding cuts in health care that already leave many in dire financial straits.
“That is no joke, folks. Our workforce [and] our economy cannot afford more parents leaving their jobs because they can’t find care,” Gov. Evers said. “The Early Learning Campus is filling a critical childcare gap here in Madison and connecting the dots for families that have local and high-quality care they deserve.”
(Photo by Omar Waheed)
Plans for the Early Learning Campus have been in the works for some years now. President Emeritus Dr. Jack Daniels III, the former president of Madison College, saw the need in 2021 for childcare on the South Side, soon after Goodman Campus opened in 2019.
In a series of meetings between Dr. Daniels, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Zach Brandon, and United Way of Dane County President Renee Moe, the three looked at barriers to unemployment and retaining a strong workforce in the area. In their discussions with local business leaders, affordable childcare was a top concern.
“For years, South Madison was a childcare desert wherein parents, often single parents, had nowhere to send their children while they were educated or trying to find ways to escape poverty,” Dr. Daniels said. “When building Goodman South Campus, our first priority was to listen to the community. Through these many conversations, we understood that college access would not be enough.”
Childcare is the top barrier, Dr. Daniels said. He spoke with Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway to broker a deal to purchase the old fire station for $1 with plans to better serve the community.
(Photo by Omar Waheed)
But the opening of the new Early Education Campus is only a step in a long-term vision for investment in the South Side, Mayor Rhodes-Conway said.
“In addition to helping meet our goals around child care and workforce development, this building and project helped us unlock things that we are working on in larger South Madison,” Mayor Rhodes-Conway said. “Having this facility here, we now are going to be able to, right across the street, put a new fire station and a new public health clinic and a significant amount of housing.”
Across the street is the old location of Centro Hispano on West Badger Road. In addition, the Mayor also envisions being able to relocate the South District Police Department a block over from Goodman on Hughes Planes to build even more housing in the future.
The Early Learning Campus will officially open in partial capacity today. Madison College plans to open the building fully for its anticipated capacity later in the year.
