JCC MetroWest's Francis and Herb Brody Early Childhood Center will remain open at its Whippany location for at least several more years, officials announced last week.

"We have great news to share with our families," said Catherine Kolbeck, director of marketing for the JCC. "We can offer preschool at the Lautenberg location for several years to come."

The fate of the center had been uncertain since last May, when JCC MetroWest announced plans to discontinue several activities at the Lautenberg Family JCC in Whippany, including its fitness center, due to a financial crunch. The same month, JCC officials said that after the 2007-08 academic year, they would have to seek a different location for the early childhood program.

A letter sent to parents dated Nov. 20, however, said the JCC and the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ had reached a "joint decision" to continue operating the day-care center at the Alex Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus in Whippany.

"JCC MetroWest and United Jewish Communities have made a commitment to provide the necessary funding to continue the program into the future," read the letter, signed by JCC executive director Michael Hopkins, JCC board of trustees chair Dolly Luwisch, and JCC director of early childhood services Jo Sohinki. "This joint decision will ensure the continuity of Jewish education for our children in a safe and caring environment."

JCC officials were jubilant over the decision.

Under the agreement, the JCC will pay reduced rent to UJC MetroWest, which operates the Whippany campus, and UJC will pay some "subsidies," according to Max Kleinman, UJC MetroWest's executive vice president. The early childhood center has been operating rent-free this year.

"This arrangement meets the JCC's needs, it meets our needs, and, most importantly, it meets the needs of our families," said Kleinman. "We received a petition and felt it was important to the program to continue on our campus, so we moved quickly to make these arrangements."

The petition, which included more than 165 signatures from parents and other community members, was organized by Sara Sabatino, a parent from Hanover Township. Sabatino said she was relieved to hear the news.

"Honestly, I'm thrilled it's open," she said. "My youngest daughter can stay. We don't have to look at other centers, and this is where we wanted her to be. It's wonderful for the community."

In the letter to parents, the JCC officials thanked UJC MetroWest for its "financial support in continuing the program" and its own JCC board of trustees for "seeking a creative solution to the challenges our program faced."

Neither JCC nor UJC officials specified how long the agreement would be in effect, although a list of FAQs attached to the letter states that "JCC and UJC have agreed to a multi-year arrangement to operate the Early Childhood Program. It is our hope that the Program will be successful and will continue for many years to come."

"UJC and JCC are in continual discussions about providing early childhood to Morris County at the Lautenberg JCC," said Kolbeck "The way they are working together, I am confident about the future."

The Brody center, which currently serves 100 families with children ranging in age from six weeks to six years, has 20 employees.

While the JCC continues to operate the fitness center in Whippany, no final decision has been announced regarding its status beyond the end of the year. "JCC MetroWest continues to operate the fitness facilities at the Aidekman Campus," the letter stated. "It is our hope that shortly the JCC and UJC will be able to announce the future plans relative to fitness."