Child Care Center, Research Lab at WSSU Closing

Despite steady enrollment, Winston-Salem State will close the Child Development Center -- which serves as a childcare center and a learning lab for students -- in the face of budget cuts.

Less than four years ago, the university built a new building for its five-star-rated development center, which has been around for 33 years. And its closing affects parents who take their children there and students who used the center as lab for education case studies and internships.

The center officially closes August 21.

"It's the first school that my son ever had the opportunity to go to. He started when he was 2 years old," said parent Crystal Thornton. "Yeah, I think bittersweet is the best way to put it."

The Child Development Center is the latest casualty in a swift round of budget cuts. Officials determined it was too expensive to continue subsidizing the center up to $400,000 a year. In addition to the loss of child care and research, the center's eight staff members will also lose their jobs. All told, the school plans to save $7 million to $9 million while awaiting possible state budget cuts.

"It's just tearing me apart, really. It's just, it's my life," said Brenda Lyles, an administrative assistant at the center.

Lyles has worked at the center since it opened its doors in 1975, serving as everything from teacher to administrative assistant and seeing children grow into adults ... even faculty members at Winston-Salem State.

"So I could be at work throughout the day and if Trey was doing something special, I'd get an e-mail with a picture of him doing it," said William Penn of the five-star rated daycare.

"Well, I've been promised a position. Where on campus, I don't know, but nowhere will be like here," said Lyles.