Millions Allocated To Help Build New Child Centers At Bliss

FORT BLISS — The military post will spend $67 million to build new facilities that will help educate and nurture the children of military families, according to Bliss Garrison Commander Col. Ed Manning.

Manning said 50 to 60 percent of the soldiers on post are married and 50 percent of them have children. The post is expected to grow to 38,000 troops by 2012 and needs to increase the capacity for support services, Manning added.

Currently, there are three types of centers on post. They are Child Development Centers (CDC), which nurture newborn to kindergarten-age children; the School Age Service (SAS), which caters to elementary and middle school-age children; and the Youth Services Centers (YSC), which caters to high school students.

Officials on post plan to buildfour new SAS centers, three new CDC centers and two new youth centers. $27.5 million was allocated this week to supplement the construction oftwo CDC,S andone SAS, Manning said. The new SAS is expected to open by Christmas. The complex will include a computer room, an activities center where kids can dance, practice judo and play sports, and a mini-gymnasium, Manning said.

Fees to use the facilities are tiered depending on rank and other factors. They will offer free childcare depending on circumstances, according to Manning.

Currently, the centers on post service 900 kids. With the new construction, they are expected to be able to serve an additional 1,500.