YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- The Yankton School Board approved spending six hundred thousand dollars to buy twelve acres of land for the new, early childhood education center.

Board President Frani Kieffer says it’s a bold move.

Kieffer says early education is critical to a child’s development.

Kieffer says its been a long process to get to this point.

The land is located south of the airport on Thirty First and Peninah, in the northeast part of the city. The building will house pre-K, Junior K and kindergarten students, with the space to move in first graders later if necessary.