Staff Writer
CARRBORO – Construction on a new preschool and day-care facility, Legacy Academy, got officially underway Monday with a groundbreaking near Homestead Road.
The academy, which owners say is intended to serve about 160 children, will provide day care, preschool and after-school programs for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. Wendy Mattucci, who owns the school with her husband, Chris, said they hope to open the facility in June.
“I think there’s a need,†she said, citing a study by the Carrboro Childcare Committee that found that in 2004-05, only 273 licensed seats in preschool care were available in Carrboro to the 570 families who needed such care. Legacy Academy will be located in the Winmore development off Homestead Road.
The Mattuccis’ initial plan was to operate a Goddard School childcare franchise, but they decided to switch to Legacy Academy because of its national reputation and teach
ing philosophies. They also wanted to provide hot food at the school, which wouldn’t be possible with Goddard.
“We just wanted to be able to provide the absolute best,†Wendy Mattucci said.
Legacy Academy franchises about a dozen facilities nationwide and uses a curriculum that is based on brain research and the idea that everyone learns in a different way.
“That was very important – to be able to provide that individualized learning,†Mattucci said. “We want them to have the best opportunity to learn how they best learn.â€
Mayor Mark Chilton said he looked forward to the opening of the school, noting the shortage of day-care and preschool options in Carrboro.
“I think all of us in Carrboro town government are very excited about this project,†he said. “One of the reasons that I ran for mayor was the lack of preschool and day-care space in our community.
“I think that we’re going to be really proud of the facility that you’re working on,†he added.
Several Winmore residents have expressed concern about the facility, citing in particular the morning and afternoon traffic it will bring. Chilton said the town is developing a more comprehensive plan for Homestead Road, in order to make it more pedestrian-friendly.
Providing a hot lunch is great as long as you have 160 children that like the exact same thing that you are serving that day.