Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Thursday, October 12, 2006

A concerted Fayette County Public Schools effort to partner with the community to improve early learning opportunities for all children will get a jump start Saturday with the first ever community-wide Early Childhood Education Summit. Parents, private day care providers and district Early Start educators will have the opportunity to network, collaborate and attend sessions on early childhood education standards, culturally responsive teaching, transitions and best practices. Roughly 200 people have registered to attend. But on-site registration will also be available.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Tates Creek High School, 1111 Centre Parkway.

Saturday also marks the official Grand Opening of Athens-Chilesburg Elementary School. Fayette County’s newest school, located at 930 Jouett Creek, replaced Athens Elementary, which was constructed in 1927.

Athens-Chilesburg Elementary serves former students from Athens and additional students from the surrounding neighborhoods. The new $12.9 million school was built on 15 acres at the corner of Jouett Creek Drive and Hays Boulevard. It has roughly 600 students.

The Grand Opening ceremony will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday in the school gym.