by LAREIGN WARD, Press Argus-Courier Staff Monday, October 27, 2008 2:59 PM CDT
A group of community, state and national leaders gathered Friday in a field on U.S. 64 East in Alma that sits empty now, but will soon be home to the new Stepping Stone Center for Children.
Groundbreaking on the new $11.7-million school was held Friday afternoon. The school is being funded through loans from the USDA Rural Development program. Funding was secured by U.S. Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, as well as Congressman John Boozman. Boozman, along with State Rep. Beverly Pyle, attended Friday's ceremonies.
Executive director Toni Wilson spoke of how Stepping Stone opened in 1972 in a local church's education annex. The special-needs preschool now has an 18,000-square-foot facility, but Wilson said the needs of the area have long since outstripped the space available. The new 60,000-square-foot facility will sit just east of the current location.
Amanda Shepherd took the microphone to speak about what Stepping Stone has done for her family. When her son Nathan was born two-and-a-half years ago, he was diagnosed with a chromosomal abnormality and other problems, and doctors said he wouldn't live more than a few months.
She said Stepping Stone "jumped in" right away to help the family get Medicaid for Nathan.
"The love and support we received from Stepping Stone was astounding," an emotional Shepherd said. "They helped us look toward the future when we weren't even sure he was going to live."
Thanks to the school, Shepherd said Nathan is doing well and she hopes to see him walk the halls of the new facility someday.
"We have Stepping Stone to thank for his progress," she said. "The early intervention has really made all the difference."
Alma Mayor John Robert Ballentine said when he first took office 15 years ago, plans for a new facility were already being discussed.
"It's been a long time getting here, but it's going to be worth every minute of it," he said.
The land for the new facility was donated by a local family.
Pyle spoke, as did Boozman.
"It truly is making a difference in the lives of so many individuals, so many families," Boozman said. "I'm committed to helping any way I can."
A ribbon-adorned backhoe stood in the field, with Stepping Stone board president Gerald Harris allowed to dig up the first chunk of dirt.
"We got up to 20 shovels (when) I said forget the shovels; we're going to get the backhoe," a smiling Wilson said.
