Construction of new daycare building underway in Niskayuna

Developers hope Our World Montessori's move will help prevent the town from becoming a "childcare desert"

By H.R. Schneider,Staff Writer

NISKAYUNA — Childcare facility Our World Montessori will be getting a newer, larger home this September in Niskayuna Commerce Park.

The $2.45 million project will offer more space and allow for increased enrollment. Developers say it’s also a means for improving childcare access following daycare closures in the past year that created a “childcare desert” in the town.

“There is a very heavy demand,” said Diane Lanci, head of Our World Montessori.

Construction began earlier this month, with plans to finish by September so the daycare can reopen at the start of the school year. Lanci said the lease on their old building at 1335 Balltown Road ends Aug. 31. Our World Montessori is leasing the new property at 46 Commerce Park Drive from real estate firm Spraragen Partners.

“The timeline was extremely compressed,” said Brooke Spraragen, who works at the firm. “Everyone understood the urgency. It was all hands on deck.”

The number of childcare facilities in New York has been declining since before the coronavirus pandemic, a trend that only accelerated afterward, according to a report from the state comptroller’s office. In November, one Niskayuna daycare closed voluntarily, while another had its license revoked and was closed in January, the state Office of Children and Family Services confirmed. In total, the two had an enrollment capacity of over 130 children.

As of 2025, two census tracts in the town were considered high-level childcare deserts, as well as a tract next door in Clifton Park, according to OCFS data. The state considers census tracts to be childcare deserts if there are three or more children under age 5 per available childcare slot or if no childcare is available. Based on those terms, nearly 60% of census tracts statewide are considered childcare deserts, according to OCFS.

Lanci and Spraragen believe it may be even more widespread following the recent closures in Niskayuna.

“It just further created a childcare desert,” Spraragen said.

The Our World Montessori expansion project is funded in part by a $500,000 grant from Empire State Development and was approved by the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority, whose participation involves a sales tax exemption for new construction purchases and a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement, according to Metroplex.

Lanci is excited to have a new outdoor space with gardens and a multipurpose room to facilitate the Montessori-style of teaching, which involves hands-on learning individualized to each student. At 5,600 square feet — 900 square feet larger than the old building — it will also allow the daycare to grow its enrollment from 46 to 56 in the first year, and be able to start enrolling infants as young as six months the following year (it currently serves children ages 18 months to kindergarten).

“We’re kind of planning to be able to grow based on demand,” Lanci said.

The project is personal for them both. The school was founded in 2004 by Jennifer Graham, who taught Lanci’s daughter, and Spraragen’s children are now enrolled at the daycare.

“Just the ability to have that outdoor space and a bright new building,” Lanci said. “We’re very excited.”