Rockwell Collins Celebrates Opening of New Child Development Center

Advanced curriculum provides increased focus on math and science

The new Rockwell Collins Child Development Center is located in Cedar Rapids at 5245 Northland Ave. NE in the former Carmike Theater building. It features 22 classrooms, an enhanced security system and a capacity for 440 students, up 190 from the previous location. It also includes a private playground with outdoor learning environments designed specifically for each age group. Currently, 320 children from age 6 weeks to 5th grade, occupy the building.

"We've created a state-of-the-art center where Rockwell Collins employees know their children will receive the best care and education of any development center in the region," said Connie Schulte, director of the Rockwell Collins Child Development Center. "Additionally, a new curriculum with an increased focus on science and math education will provide our children a solid educational foundation for the future."

The opening of the new center was driven by Rockwell Collins' desire to retain highly talented employees, to help shorten a long and growing waiting list at the previous location, and to introduce math and science curriculum basics at younger ages.

Rockwell Collins teamed with staff from the University of Northern Iowa's Malcolm Price Laboratory School and the Iowa Department of Human Services for advice on building, room and curriculum design. Price Laboratory School at UNI provides one of the nation's outstanding settings for clinical teacher education and research at the early childhood, elementary, middle and high school levels.

"This center represents the values of Rockwell Collins," said Ron Kirchenbauer, senior vice president of Human Resources for Rockwell Collins. "With high quality staff, an advanced curriculum and the convenience of having an on-site location for child care, we believe this center will help attract potential employees and provide peace of mind for those employees with children."

When the Child Development Center was established in 1986, Rockwell Collins was among the first in Iowa to provide employees with on-site child care. The Five Seasons Learning Centers, a non-profit organization comprised of the Cedar Rapids School District and St. Luke's Hospital, officially assumed management of the center in 1990.

The center is only available to Rockwell Collins employees, who find the on-site location convenient for them to participate in classroom activities, field trips, carnivals, a safety fair, parent lunches and annual summer picnics. Programs include a full-time summer program for school-age children and a before and after school program with busing to local schools during the school year. The center also supports a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) that assists with teacher support, policy recommendations, fundraising, and marketing of the program. The PTO is comprised of Rockwell Collins employees, which is the connecting link to the center's strong partnership with Rockwell Collins.