Central Christian School Celebrates Completion of the Jay & Connie Schrock Early Education Center

The Jay & Connie Schrock Early Education Center at Central Christian School is now open! 

This new facility represents a major milestone for our community, offering high-quality early education and care for children ages 6 weeks through school age. With the capacity to serve up to 99 children, the Center is poised to make a meaningful impact on families throughout Reno County and beyond. 

A Building with History, Renewed for the Future 

Located near 30^th and Halstead in Hutchinson, the building that now houses the Early Education Center has a unique history—it was originally a fire station. Central Christian School acquired the facility in 2011, and it has served many roles over the years. Today, after a complete transformation, it’s become a dedicated space for nurturing the youngest learners in a safe, state-of-the-art environment.  

Designed with Families in Mind 

From the moment families walk through the front entrance, they’ll find a thoughtfully designed facility that includes: 

• A secure check-in area with fingerprint security for peace of mind 

• A large indoor play area in the former truck bay area 

• A fully equipped kitchen for meals and snacks 

• ADA-compliant restrooms and toilet-training toddler friendly restrooms 

• Six classrooms, tailored to serve infants through school-age children 

• A dedicated nursing mother’s room, offering a comfortable and private space for moms to nurse their children throughout the day 

A Community Collaboration 

Superintendent Dr. John Walker expressed deep gratitude for the partnerships that helped make this vision a reality.  

“The Reno County Childcare Task Force played a vital role throughout the process—from project planning and community collaboration to connecting the school with resources and helping train staff,” Dr. Walker shared. “It’s helpful to have those healthy relationships in the community to ensure longevity and that we’re offering the best services to the entire county that we can.” 

As communities across Kansas continue to face a childcare crisis, the opening of this Center has been met with excitement and appreciation. Central Christian is proud to be part of the solution—helping to ensure that families in Reno County have access to high-quality, faith-based early education. 

“We’ve heard nothing but positive comments from the community,” Dr. Walker said. “It’s such a blessing to be in this space—an upgrade we’ve needed for years—and to see children begin filling these hallways.” 

To learn more or inquire about enrollment, please visit https://www.cougarsccs.com/page/preschool-child-care