The Uintah School District and Utah State University Uintah Basin invite the community to attend a ribbon cutting and open house at the new Central Cove Early Learning Center on Monday, Aug. 25, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
The state-of-the-art facility is located about a third of a mile east of the Aggie Bull on the north side of Main Street (29 N. 1600 West) in Vernal. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will allow families, educators, and community members to tour the new facility, meet the staff, and learn more about the programs that will be offered starting this fall.
“My hope is that as our families and our community walk through the doors of our new school for the first time, they will feel — just as I have — the urgency of our vision,” Central Cove Principal Erin Brown said.
“We want our program to provide services and experiences that spark joy and excitement in our students, include their families in their education, and empower our staff every day,” Brown added. “This carefully crafted building gives us the space to expand on that dream and make it a lasting reality.”
Uintah School District Superintendent Dr. Rick Woodford emphasized the importance of the district’s collaboration with USU to expand and enhance early childhood education to help Uintah County kids reach their full individual potential.
“We’re proud to partner with USU to offer a research-based program where children can learn through play, hands-on projects, and peer interaction in a safe, supportive environment,” the superintendent said.
“With this partnership, we’ll continue to develop a highly trained staff focused on language development, social skills, and other school readiness skills,” Woodford added. “Our children in Uintah County deserve the best, and we’re committed to providing it.”
Woodford noted that decades of research show strong links between preschool attendance and kindergarten readiness, as well as long-term outcomes such as academic success, meaningful careers, and improved health.
“We need to provide quality early childhood education and better access to serve more children who need it,” Woodford said. “We want children in our community to enjoy the lifelong benefits that are associated with attending a quality preschool.”
The new Central Cove was built with reserves from the district’s capital fund. It replaces a 1940s-era building that had outlived its usefulness and is no longer safe for occupancy. Rather than invest heavily in renovating outdated infrastructure, the district opted to build a modern facility that will serve more students and address a pressing academic need. In recent years, the district’s incoming kindergarten students have scored well below the state average on the Utah KEEP assessment, particularly in pre-literacy, where local scores have lagged by more than 20 percent.
“The new Central Cove Early Learning Center is about more than the shiny new building,” Woodford said. “It’s about building a high-quality early childhood program that will improve future outcomes for our kids.”
Utah State University Uintah Basin played a key role in making the vision for Central Cove a reality.
“When we first met with Superintendent Woodford to discuss locating Central Cove on our Vernal campus, we immediately knew it was the right thing to do,” USU Uintah Basin Associate Vice President David Law said. “This partnership is the epitome of USU UB’s land-grant mission, joining forces with local educators to improve our community.”
USU UB has faculty offices and an adult education classroom inside the new Central Cove. The university will also contribute academic leadership and faculty expertise through the involvement of Little Aggies Preschool Director Shirlene Law and Dr. Lisa Boyce, executive director of the Dolores Doré Eccles Center for Early Care and Education at USU in Logan.
“Over the past few months, I’ve seen first-hand the commitment Superintendent Woodford and Principal Brown have to the children of Uintah County,” Boyce said. “Their dedication to best practices and their vision for continuous improvement will make Central Cove a center of excellence. I’m thrilled to collaborate with this passionate team.”
USU will hire two new assistant professors — one in early childhood education and one in early childhood special education — who will be housed in the new building.
“The school district has built a world-class early learning center,” David Law said. “USU UB is eager to ensure that the learning inside the building is equally world-class. This school will set young students on a path to success that benefits them and our entire community.”