Members of the Triad National Security LLC Board of Directors joined the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, Laboratory management, community leaders and staff from Bilingual Montessori School of White Rock for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 27 at the soon-to-open child care facility at 3500 Trinity Drive in Los Alamos.
The event marked the completion of the first stage of construction of the center. Also in attendance were NNSA Los Alamos Field Office Manager Ted Wyka, and Elizabeth Groginsky, New Mexico secretary for early childhood education.
Triad parent entity the University of California provided $2 million for remodeling and furnishings at the center, and Triad's Board of Directors has pledged ongoing financial support for its operations, which will be run by Bilingual Montessori School. The center is intended to serve approximately 150 children, with priority given to Lab employees, especially those whose children presently lack care. Read the project announcement for more details.
Odalys González, director of BMS, cut the ribbon along with Jay Sures, chair of the Triad Board of Directors. González thanked the University of California and Triad for their investments, and Laboratory leadership for their support and partnership.
“There has been a persistent and pressing need for more child care centers to serve the community in Los Alamos, but now what was a dream is on the brink of becoming a reality, thanks to the huge efforts of many people and organizations,” said González.
"Expanded child care is essential to Los Alamos’ important national security mission — it means more caregivers will be able to pursue jobs at the Lab and that those employees can come to work confident that their kids are safe and happy,” said Sures, who is also a member of the University of California Board of Regents. “The University of California is proud to be part of this effort and to help bring a much-needed resource to the Lab workforce."
Crews have been doing extensive remodeling at the site since July. Buildings at the campus are designated for different childhood stages, and construction is being completed in phases.
The currently completed buildings will serve infants and toddlers and will open once Bilingual Montessori School has prepared the spaces and received the necessary inspections and licensing from the state.
"For the first groups, we’re already contacting the families on the waitlists in the order they put their names down, with a view to a soft opening for them in March," said González.
The buildings for older children are tentatively scheduled to open in June.
Neither Los Alamos National Laboratory nor the Department of Energy will be financially invested in the initiative. Child care services will be provided at market-competitive rates.