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Any discussion of what's best for the future of the Southeast Yakima Community Center must remain focused on the key word in the debate. And that would be "community."

Let's step beyond agendas and nostalgia and look to the greater community good in general, and the Southeast Yakima neighborhood in particular.

The center, which has struggled financially for years, finds itself at the epicenter of a tempest because of a proposal to demolish the aging building to make room for the Gates Foundation's new Ready by Five child care facility.

So, do we have a community center or a very ambitious early childhood program and building? Or, can both co-exist with complementing programs?

In finding an answer, the overriding question is: What's best for the community?

We can understand the reluctance of those who have given so much to the center to see it go by the boards. But at this juncture, it's too early for supporters to panic at that prospect anyway.

The Yakima City Council has set a hearing for June 3 on the proposal and in the meantime will prepare a lease/buy option for the property, which the city owns.

As this debate moves forward, let's keep focused on the issue at hand. If the community center is to be saved, there must be in place a realistic plan for funding and programming, which given recent history, seems problematic at best.

And given the choices, it's also important and helpful that Ester Huey, who came out of retirement to run the center again without pay, is in on the dialogue. She's also on the Ready by Five executive board, allowing her a clear view of both operations.

The Ready by Five facility and program is something the community cannot afford to pass up. Yakima will be one of only two cities in the state to host such a Gates Foundation-sponsored program that starts with a $5 million investment that will grow to some $30 million over a decade.

The project will serve a predominantly Latino neighborhood that spans 5.5 square miles and includes about 3,500 children 5 and younger. The center would house a staff of highly trained and well-compensated teachers and would provide support programs to families, such as parenting classes.

Still, that's no excuse for the city to dump the center outright, either. The council has an obligation to explore all the options and possibilities -- including coexistence -- before making decisions and the hearing will be one opportunity to do so.

In the meantime, let's keep focused: What's best for the community?

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Sarah Jenkins, Bill Lee and Karen Troianello.