Primrose School of Greenville had its groundbreaking ceremony last week at its future location at 404 Houston St., off South Church Street in downtown Greenville.
Mayor Knox White, Mayor Pro Tem David Sudduth, Hank Hyatt with the Greenville Chamber and others were on hand for the ceremonious shoveling of the dirt. The $3 million project is expected to create 28 new jobs in the community.
White said it’s great to have an entrepreneur like Primrose School owner Lauren Briles in the community. “We know that young families will make a decision to live in this city because of this school,” said White.
The private preschool and after-school care school will be approximately 11,700 square feet and plans to open early summer 2014. Briles says she “is very excited to bring the Primrose concept to Greenville. There are so many programs that are currently wait-listed in downtown Greenville and this will offer much-needed relief for dual-working parents.”
Briles thanked her parents who, as she quipped, “are risking their retirement” by providing some of the funding for the new school.
Primrose Schools were founded in Marietta, Ga., by Paul and Marcy Erwin who “revolutionized the concept of child care, making education the key component of its curriculum in an era when all-play and nothing-but-play” was the accepted norm. The team franchised the concept and there are currently 250 Primrose Schools in 17 states.
The new school will have 11 classrooms, multiple playgrounds and sports courts for basketball, baseball and hopscotch. In keeping with the educational focus, there will be an on-site garden area to teach kids about growing their own plants and vegetables.
“We are excited to bring the Primrose educational child care experience, its unparalleled curriculum and unique culture to South Carolina and the Greenville community,” said Briles.
The new school will teach children values and how to be good citizens. Even the youngest children will be taught sign language and Spanish as part of the normal curriculum.
The school will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Attendees will range from six-week-old infants to age five attending the schools kindergarten and up to age 12 participating in after-school programs.
