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What was once known as the North Roebuck School is undergoing transformation. The building will become the Early Learning Center for Martha Gaskins Elementary School.All Pre-K through first grade students will be housed in the annex, which sits across the street from Martha Gaskins.>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from �������� 13�������� 13 was given an exclusive tour of the facility while renovations are ongoing.The operations officer for Birmingham City Schools, Michael Moore, told us the design phase started in 2022 and construction began in April 2024."The entire project came out to $12 million," Moore said.The early learning annex will have 21 classrooms, a renovated kitchen and gym, sensory room, therapy room, computer lab, and newly constructed administrative offices that will located in a different area of the building."You’ll see on the building, we still have some of the original North Roebuck signs that we’ll keep just to pay homage to the space," Moore said.This will be one school in two locations. The concept serves a greater need for those in the East Birmingham area. There has been a growing population in need of early childhood education.>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTubeWhile the renovations are exciting for school and district leaders, the ultimate goal is to introduce more students to education at an earlier age without them having to leave their neighborhood. "Early childhood is the foundation," said Arlene Williams. "With us taking this route, we are trying to reach the boys and girls."Williams is the early learning director for BCS. She also taught kindergarten for 13 years. She's seen first-hand the challenges that can happen for students. She agrees with early introduction."If you are able to hit those social skills, get them adjusted to being with other boys and girls, speaking more; which increases their vocabulary, their writing skills increase and their fine motor skills," she said.The direct impact of early childhood education has been noted within BCS. "Research was done with us through UAB, and it showed that our boys and girls surpassed in all of the areas: math, reading, gross motor, cognitive development by attending pre-k," Williams said.Students in this direct neighborhood who were enrolled in pre-k received enrichment at other schools - Robinson and Barrett Elementary Schools - because there wasn't enough space. However, population is growing for those schools. We're told there was no other option for pre-k students."Couldn't go to Sun Valley, it's overcrowded; couldn't go to Huffman, it was overcrowded; couldn't go to W.J. Christian, it was overcrowded," Williams said."The building itself had really good bones. We thought it’d be best to renovate space and get our babies in here as quick as possible," Moore saidThe Jefferson County Child Development Council will facilitate a class for 3-year-olds at the annex.>> �������� 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for free