65° and Mist
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Above, mascot Bubbles the Elephant stands behind The Learning Experience franchise owner, Manoj Gandhi, preparing to cut the ceremonial ribbon. To his immediate left, Town Councilor Melanie Hamblen and Senator Becca Rausch. To his right, State Rep. Jeff Roy and Town Councilor Ted Cormier-Leger.
Massachusetts State Senator Rebecca L. Rausch and State Representative Jeffrey Roy attended The Learning Experience's grand opening during its ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. on Monday, September 16th.
The Learning Experience center in Franklin will serve children from 6 weeks to 6 years of age with daycare and early childhood education that prepares them to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. The Learning Experience’s preschool curriculum features engaging educational characters like “Bubbles the Elephant” and teaches children everything from the ABCs and 123s, STEM-based learning and sign language and lifelong lessons on the values of kindness, inclusion, and helping others in the community.
The Learning Experience center in Franklin is be independently owned and operated by franchisee Manoj Gandhi and will employ nearly 35 staff members, infant caregivers, and certified teachers in the local community. Located at 515 West Central Street in Franklin, the 10,000 square foot facility has a capacity of 126 children. It is the seventh Learning Experience in Massachusetts and the 400th nationally.
Jim Stukel, founder of the Stukel Group LLC, which built the facility, lauded Gandhi in his brief remarks, for his vision and commitment to quality and to the Franklin community.
In addition to Rausch and Roy, Town Councilors Melanie Hamblen and Ted Cormier-Leger were also in attendance as well as Deputy Town Manager Amy. M Frigulietti and Cory Shea, director of arts, culture and the creative economy were also in attendance.
The ribbon cutting was facilitated by Laura O'Callaghan, CEO of the Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Not discussed at yesterday's sunny event was the great difficulty The Learning Experience had in getting approval from some of the town's boards. Ed Cannon, attorney for the company in its long effort to open in Franklin, confirmed that it required an appeal process, which eventually reversed the original negative determination.
