Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Cherokee Nation officials broke ground for the nation’s new Child Development Center and Childcare services facility in Tahlequah recently. The new facility will continue to host activities for children ages six-weeks to 12 years, as well as the Child Care Resource Center, Licensing, and the Child Care Subsidy office.

Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Tribal Council Members and staff break ground, for the CNO's new Child Development Center.

"This way we will be able to increase enrollment and provide child care services all in one central location," said Deanna O’Lauglin, Child Development Center supervisor.

"This has been a long project, but we appreciate the people who stayed with it," Tribal Councilman for District 1 John Ketcher said. "By this summer, we should have something to look at."

Leading the groundbreaking ceremony along with Ketcher were, Bill Clark, executive director of Human Services Division; Laurie Hand, executive director of CN Child Development Center, and Tribal Councilman Don Crittenden.

SelserSchaefer Architects, an award-winning architectural firm located in Tulsa, designed the new 31,000 square-foot childcare center that will be located along the hills adjacent to the Cherokee Nation Head Start.

Plans for the new building include red masonry and natural-colored siding surrounded with small green leaf canopies, inspired by the Cherokee alphabet "the talking leaves" which will provide covered porches for the children and staff. Traditional Cherokee colors will be added throughout the building, one administrative wing, and 13 classrooms.