Bonners Ferry's newest school facility - one that was spearheaded by a $70,000 community-wide fundraiser and donated land - is set to welcome its first class.

Three years after Boundary County Commissioners gave an acre of county-owned property to the Boundary County Head Start program, the new Julien Bucher Early Childhood Learning Center will open its doors at 8 a.m. Sept. 22 to 39 preschoolers.

Head Start Family Service Worker Diane Charter and center assistant Debbie Garcia are gearing up towards welcoming the first class at the new Julien Bucher Early Childhood Learning Center Sept. 22.

That's almost twice as many as the program was able to serve at its former location at the Boundary County Fairgrounds, where it operated for the last two decades.

"This is a dream come true for everyone involved with Head Start," said Debbie Garcia, Head Start's center assistant, now in her eighth year with the program. "We couldn't be more thrilled."

Garcia isn't the only one who is thrilled. Children enrolled in the program, their families and the rest of the Head Start staff have been embracing the day when the state-of-the-art facility would finally become a reality for Boundary County's low-income four-year-olds.

Bolstered by seven employees - two more than the Head Start program had a year ago - the new 3,000-square-foot building on Chippewa Street will be buzzing with a burst of activity in two weeks. It's something that Garcia and Family Service Worker Diane Charter once only dreamed about.

"It's going to prove a positive, nurturing atmosphere where children and families can learn life skills," said Charter, now in her seventh year with Head Start. "This is a real good program, and we now have such an incredible facility to make this happen on a bigger and better scale."

With its shining brown-and-white linoleum floors, a playground with new equipment, eight different indoor sections that include a library, kitchen and a block-playing area, the facility has been called a "community treasure" by Doug Fagerness, Director of North Idaho College.

Funded with an $185,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture secured by Friends of Head Start - which also pledged a $50,000 grant for the new center - the $370,000 project may never have seen the light of day if county librarian Sandy Ashworth had not asked commissioners to donate the county-owned property to Head Start in 2005.

It didn't take long for the project to start gathering steam.

Panhandle State Bank pledged to match dollar-for-dollar for whatever amount was raised, which totaled $34,000. Along with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho's $20,000 donation, individuals like Doug Kim-Brown - who chipped in $5,000 - and Greg Johnson who canvassed the community for contributions provided the financial firepower for the project.

"The children will be so much better-served here because it's much more child-friendly than what we had before," said Charter. "We now have sinks and bathrooms in the classrooms. It's going to accommodate the kids so much better."

Housed for 20 years in a makeshift room at the Fairgrounds that served as a food service and restroom facility, it's no secret that Head Start's space had been inadequate for years. Teachers had to accompany children to restrooms, leaving just one adult in the class. The playground children used had no permanent fixtures.

Additionally, everything in the classroom had to be packed up in June and placed in storage to provide space for the county fair.

"What's so exciting is we don't ever have to pack up any more and leave," said Charter. "We just come here, plan and teach."

It will also accompany the needs of both the children and their families at a level the former location was unable to.

"This isn't just a preschool," said Charter. "It's a family program. It gives kids the tools they need, from nutrition to academic skills. It will provide their parents with the help to improve every aspect of their lives. We think this is pretty exciting stuff."

For more information, contact Head Start at 267-5756.