Community Learning Center's Grand Opening is Saturday

The Village of Greendale, Greendale Schools, Greendale Public Library, Greendale Park and Recreation, and the Greendale Health Department will host a grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Greendale Community Learning Center (CLC) at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013.

The ceremony will be held at the CLC, formerly known as the Greendale Library, 5650 Parking Street, Greendale.

The opening event will include remarks by Rob Henken, President of the Public Policy Forum, whose organization consulted with Greendale officials in the development of the CLC concept.

Other Greendale officials will be present, including Stephanie Mares, president of the Public Library Board of Directors; Greendale Schools Superintendent Dr. John Tharp; Village President John Hermes; School Board president Joe Crapitto; and Village Manager Todd Michaels.

The Greendale CLC is an initiative of the Village of Greendale and Greendale Schools in partnership with the Library and Health Department. Its development creates opportunities for collaboration, cost savings, and enhanced educational opportunities by housing important community services under one roof to increase efficiencies, expand services, and enhance convenience for citizens.

An advisory board comprised of residents, program partners, and members of the Village and School District boards manage shared programming components of the CLC. Plans call for expanding technology and access to educational services for the community in this facility.

“It is essential for local governments and school districts to explore ways cooperatively to share and consolidate services given their budget challenges and state-imposed property tax limits,” Henken said. “Other communities seeking an example for such cooperation should look to Greendale, where municipal and school district leaders have developed an exciting and innovative plan to house a variety of municipal and recreational services in the public library as a means of maximizing staff resources and enhancing community learning.”

Housed in the building previously known as the Greendale Public Library, visitors will have the opportunity to sample the various services offered at the CLC as part of the event. Offerings include registering for fall classes at the Park & Recreation Department office, signing up for the October Fun Run/Walk at the Public Health Department, signing up for a library card or checking out books in the Library, and learning more about the walking tour of Greendale developed by the Greendale Historical Society.