Southeastern University to open childhood center to help fill need

LAKELAND, Fla. — Southeastern University in Lakeland is moving forward with plans to build an early childhood development center.

School officials say it will serve a dual purpose. First, the center will provide childcare for both SEU employees and others in the community, and it will serve as a learning lab for students enrolled in the college of education.

Over the past three years, Patrick Fitzgerald has learned the ins and outs of the school system at SEU as a chief of staff.  

As a former student and now employee, Fitzgerald said his family has been his biggest support system.

“This is actually our whole family, that’s me my wife, Theo and Tori down there.”

Like many other parents, he said it can be challenging juggling work and childcare now.

He’ll be one of many employees at SEU who will benefit from a childcare center being built by the university. A ground breaking was held earlier this month.

“It’ll be really nice for our kids to be right down the street instead of on the other side of town, where they’re currently in daycare, and it’ll be really great to just know the people who are taking care of our kids. That’s so important,” he said.

The center will serve 160 children from six weeks to four years old. Pricing for the center has not been set yet, but officials say they want to provide the best quality care for children.

It will be available for both employees and non-employees.

Project leaders say it will help fill a gap in childcare. Ted Church is the project lead.

“We’ve seen a lot of schools, preschools and even daycares have a long waitlist, where they’re on the waitlist for eight, 10, 12 months and beyond,” Church said.

A fact sheet from First Five Years Fund found that the demand for quality care far outweighs the supply, making access to childcare difficult.

People involved with the new Robert and Sandra Graper Early Childhood Center hope it will change that.

“Having great places to put your kids is one of those things that it’s just hard to keep up with, with the population growth we’ve had in this area,” Fitzgerald said.

He said the center will create a special space where he can watch his children grow and learn, nearby.

The center is set to open in the fall of 2026.