MERRIMACK - A new childhood educational facility announced this week that it hopes to open its doors in a temporary location by the end of January.

Children's Quest Academy, founded by a local couple with four young children, has signed a six-month lease at 416 Daniel Webster Highway, the former home of Perfect Balance Preschool, which recently closed. "Here is the news you have all been waiting to hear," says a posting on the private school's facebook page. " . We are hoping to be opening as soon as possible - guessing mid to late January."

While the school operates from the temporary location, it plans to build a new preschool and kindergarten not far away along the Daniel Webster Highway.

"We are working with builders and have designed a brand new facility. We are looking forward to seeing many old and new faces when we open our doors," says the posting.

It has been a long journey for Tracey and Alfred Carl of Joppa Road, owners of the new school. Children's Quest Academy was initially planning to operate its new school at 401 Daniel Webster Highway, where Eye-Q Vision Therapy is housed, but the application was withdrawn following concerns that the site may be too small for future expansion.

But it didn't take long for the couple to identify another location for their new school. The Carls were not immediately available on Wednesday to elaborate on their design plans.

According to plans which were filed at the Community Development Office, Children's Quest Academy will be an educational environment that helps build connections for children between the classroom and the outside world.

"Our programs and curriculum is designed to develop each child's potential through activities that promote independence, physical coordination, emotional growth, teamwork and exploration," the plans say.

The school is for children ages 2 to 6 possibly even younger - and is expected to enroll about 70 students in the first two years, Tracy Carl said earlier.

The Carls decided to form a new preschool after Perfect Balance Preschool closed earlier this year. They are working with its former director, Tammy Mitrano, to create a new learning institution for toddlers, pre-schoolers, pre-kindergarteners and kindergarten students.

According to the announcement made this week, Mitrano will be employed as the school's director and teacher.

"She has been very patient and wonderful to work with through this whole process," says the statement. "This is a very exciting opportunity for us," Tracy Carl said previously.

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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.