A cooperative preschool is one started by and run by the parents of the children enrolled. This means that parents sit on the board and make all the decisions for the school. They find and hire the teachers and director. They set the tuition prices. They do the budget. They get the supplies. They prepare the space.
Parents also rotate helping out on a daily basis in the school. They are the janitors, doing all the daily cleaning. They also prepare the snack if one is provided. And they help the teachers in any way they can. They play with the kids. They monitor children on the play ground. They facilitate disagreements among children.
This does not mean a parent will have to do this every day. At our school in Philadelphia, parents can choose to co-op once to three times a month and the tuition for their child goes up or down depending on this decision. Co-oping means coming in for the school day and doing all the cleaning tasks that need to be done while also being with the children when needed. At least a couple of parents, depending on the size of the school, come in together each day.
Parents also choose a job, such as a board position, a fundraiser, the admissions person, the co-oping scheduler, etc. And parents take turns throughout the year doing a deep cleanup of the school on the weekends. At the school my son attends, we only had to do this weekend cleanup two or three times a year and we always cleaned with another family. There are also cleanup "parties" at the beginning and end of the year that everyone participates in for a few hours on a Saturday. Big projects get done on these days, such as painting.
Because there is no need to pay a janitor or extra teaching assistants, the cost of tuition tends to be much less than other preschools.
So, that is the work side of it. And, yes, it is work. But it is also so much fun. During all this work, you get to know everyone so well. And the kids see you cleaning the space and that teaches them how important the school is to you as well. And when you co-op, you are able to sit in the circle with your child and really get to know how she or he interacts with other children. You get to know who their friends are and you know when issues arise. And you are able to hear all the cute comments, sing all the sweet songs, and play all the fun games with your child. And your child has you with him or her on occasion. For a first school experience especially, this makes for a much smoother transition for both of you.
These are just some of the advantages. Don't be scared off by the work. It is a small price to pay for a school and second family for your child.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
My Story
So, why do I want to help form a cooperative preschool in Pensacola?
Well, I have lived in Philadelphia now for almost three years. My husband, two children, and I moved up here from Jacksonville, FL so that Jamie (my husband) could pursue his desire to change careers and attend law school. Now he is in his last semester of law school (thank goodness!) and we have had no luck finding jobs here. He has been offered a great job at a law firm in Pensacola, where his childhood friend practices, so we are on our way back to FL this summer!
While we have been here, with Jamie in full-time law school and working, many things have been difficult. Money has been tight. Time together as a family has been scarce. Being at home with two little ones without much help has been wearing at times.
But, one thing has always been perfectly delightful and wonderful this whole time and has made everything worthwhile: Jude's school. I would be stressed about money, annoyed by bickering kids, and I would enter his school and it would wash that all away. The community there is like a family and the kids are having so much fun while they grow, explore, and learn. It is our second home.
And I am proud to be one of those parents who can truly believe it when I say, "My son's school is the best school on earth." And I really believe that this would not be possible, would not be quite the same, if this school was not a cooperative.
The school Jude is attending the Cooperative Nursery School. It is here in Philadelphia, in a building next to (and owned by) the Unitarian Society of Germantown, a Unitarian Universalist church here. The school is not affiliated with the church and is secular in nature. They simply rent the space from the church. The school has been around since 1967 and is run by the parents. It has a great reputation. Kids who attend the school are actually sought out by several area private schools after graduation.
When I learned that we would be moving to Pensacola, a bit of my heart broke at the idea of Ruby not being able to attend CNS like I had always hoped and planned. So, I began my online and over-the-phone search for preschools down there. I was disappointed to find that there were no cooperative preschools, but I was not surprised. I knew this was a trend up here. There are actually two co-ops just in my area of town and I don't remember ever hearing about co-ops when I was down south.
So, being the ambitious (or some might say crazy) person I am, I thought, "Well, why not start a cooperative school?" Other groups of parents have done it all over the country. A group did it here and created such a magical school. So, why couldn't I, with the help of some other interested parents and educators, create such a school? If people could just hear what a co-op is like, many parents would love the idea.
I knew there was a Unitarian Universalist church in Pensacola (the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola) and thought I would just give them a call first and see if they happened to have space they would be willing to rent for a preschool. I chose the UU church just because it is what I am familiar with, being a UU myself, but also because I knew that most other churches would probably hesitate to support a secular school.
I didn't really expect that this would work out. But, very quickly, I received a call back from the minister, Reverend Julie Kain. She not only said they had the space, but that they would be thrilled to rent it for a preschool. She said this was a hope of hers for a while. She had even offered the space to some area preschools, but nothing had panned out. So, not only was it a possibility, but something she and others at the church were really excited about.
Now, you have to admit that sounds like fate. If you believe in that kind of thing, which I do.
So, now what? Well, first of all, I need help. I need parents looking for a unique and special preschool experience for their child. I need parents who are willing to do a bit of work to make their child's school a success. I need a loving and experienced preschool teacher or two. I need a qualified director (who could possibly also be a teacher at the school). And I need anyone and everyone who is willing to help in any way.
It will be a lot of work, but our children are worth the work. They deserve the best school on earth. Or, at least, in Pensacola.
Well, I have lived in Philadelphia now for almost three years. My husband, two children, and I moved up here from Jacksonville, FL so that Jamie (my husband) could pursue his desire to change careers and attend law school. Now he is in his last semester of law school (thank goodness!) and we have had no luck finding jobs here. He has been offered a great job at a law firm in Pensacola, where his childhood friend practices, so we are on our way back to FL this summer!
While we have been here, with Jamie in full-time law school and working, many things have been difficult. Money has been tight. Time together as a family has been scarce. Being at home with two little ones without much help has been wearing at times.
But, one thing has always been perfectly delightful and wonderful this whole time and has made everything worthwhile: Jude's school. I would be stressed about money, annoyed by bickering kids, and I would enter his school and it would wash that all away. The community there is like a family and the kids are having so much fun while they grow, explore, and learn. It is our second home.
And I am proud to be one of those parents who can truly believe it when I say, "My son's school is the best school on earth." And I really believe that this would not be possible, would not be quite the same, if this school was not a cooperative.
The school Jude is attending the Cooperative Nursery School. It is here in Philadelphia, in a building next to (and owned by) the Unitarian Society of Germantown, a Unitarian Universalist church here. The school is not affiliated with the church and is secular in nature. They simply rent the space from the church. The school has been around since 1967 and is run by the parents. It has a great reputation. Kids who attend the school are actually sought out by several area private schools after graduation.
When I learned that we would be moving to Pensacola, a bit of my heart broke at the idea of Ruby not being able to attend CNS like I had always hoped and planned. So, I began my online and over-the-phone search for preschools down there. I was disappointed to find that there were no cooperative preschools, but I was not surprised. I knew this was a trend up here. There are actually two co-ops just in my area of town and I don't remember ever hearing about co-ops when I was down south.
So, being the ambitious (or some might say crazy) person I am, I thought, "Well, why not start a cooperative school?" Other groups of parents have done it all over the country. A group did it here and created such a magical school. So, why couldn't I, with the help of some other interested parents and educators, create such a school? If people could just hear what a co-op is like, many parents would love the idea.
I knew there was a Unitarian Universalist church in Pensacola (the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola) and thought I would just give them a call first and see if they happened to have space they would be willing to rent for a preschool. I chose the UU church just because it is what I am familiar with, being a UU myself, but also because I knew that most other churches would probably hesitate to support a secular school.
I didn't really expect that this would work out. But, very quickly, I received a call back from the minister, Reverend Julie Kain. She not only said they had the space, but that they would be thrilled to rent it for a preschool. She said this was a hope of hers for a while. She had even offered the space to some area preschools, but nothing had panned out. So, not only was it a possibility, but something she and others at the church were really excited about.
Now, you have to admit that sounds like fate. If you believe in that kind of thing, which I do.
So, now what? Well, first of all, I need help. I need parents looking for a unique and special preschool experience for their child. I need parents who are willing to do a bit of work to make their child's school a success. I need a loving and experienced preschool teacher or two. I need a qualified director (who could possibly also be a teacher at the school). And I need anyone and everyone who is willing to help in any way.
It will be a lot of work, but our children are worth the work. They deserve the best school on earth. Or, at least, in Pensacola.
Welcome!
I am so excited to launch this site. I am hoping it will help bring together a group of parents, educators, and others in and around Pensacola, FL, who are interested in being involved in the formation of a wonderful new preschool.
So, whether you are a parent looking for a great school for your 3-5 year old, a teacher looking for a job at a close-knit, small nursery school, or simply a generous soul who wants to help this dream become a reality, welcome and thank you for visiting!
Please feel free to browse the site for more information on cooperative preschools and be sure to join our Google Group to get involved in the conversation and plans. Also, enter your email at the top right to receive these posts by email.
You can also post comments and questions on the site's posts, so please do.
This project will be a big endeavor, but I am very excited and I believe that a small group of passionate people can come together and accomplish this (as many other groups around the country have)!
So, whether you are a parent looking for a great school for your 3-5 year old, a teacher looking for a job at a close-knit, small nursery school, or simply a generous soul who wants to help this dream become a reality, welcome and thank you for visiting!
Please feel free to browse the site for more information on cooperative preschools and be sure to join our Google Group to get involved in the conversation and plans. Also, enter your email at the top right to receive these posts by email.
You can also post comments and questions on the site's posts, so please do.
This project will be a big endeavor, but I am very excited and I believe that a small group of passionate people can come together and accomplish this (as many other groups around the country have)!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Thank You
Thank you for your message and your interest in The Little Village Preschool. We will respond to any questions or comments you might have as soon as possible.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
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