HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Children helped out in the groundbreaking for the Pahrump Early Learning Academy. Pam Moen and Miss Pahrump, Jill Wulfenstein joined the kids. Advertisement

It wasn't a groundbreaking for a run-of-the-mill child care facility near J.G. Johnson Elementary School last week. The name said it all: Pahrump Early Learning Academy.

It's a mom and pop operation that will accommodate up to 175 children.

Curt Moen's company, M3 Planning and Consulting Group, will own the 3.4-acre site and build the 8,700-square-foot facility. Pam Moen, a teacher for 16 years with a degree in early childhood education, will be the director, leasing the building from her husband's company.

"It's not going to be just a day care. It's going to be a state-recognized pre-school with teachers that have degrees in early childhood education," Curt Moen said.

The academy will include four classrooms, an infant care room and large activity center with a full kitchen, he said.

The Moens were turned down by the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission the first time last October. They returned two months later and won approval for a rezoning at the current location, which was lauded by RPC members as the right place for it.

Pahrump Early Learning Academy will be situated on a lot near the intersection of Highland and Honeysuckle streets.

Early registration will begin in early May. Moen said there's already been a great deal of interest -- he expects to have the pre-school ready for occupancy Sept. 1, just after the 2008 school year begins.

"Anyone who's in school that needs a place to go until their folks are off work, and then kindergarteners who need half a day, it's open to them also. But all the children that will be there will be in the curriculum," Moen said.

Pahrump Early Learning Academy is expected to employ 10 to 12 workers, he said.

Pam Moen's license to run the facility is pending state approval. Curt Moen said that approval was awaiting the approval of the site plan by Nye County, which was just received Monday.

Moen said he's excited about the concept of running a pre-school and providing learning while the children are in a day-care setting.

"A lot of these places you put your kid there and all they do is put in a video and watch TV," he said.