By Valarie Schwartz
Sometimes life requires us to move.
After almost three decades, Family Preschool has learned that after this school year it will have to move from the sweet haven it has enjoyed at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. The 40 families of the non-sectarian, parent-run cooperative were told this spring that the church will be renovating the space they occupy on weekday mornings, changing it into a fellowship hall.
The little girl in the fairy costume and pink shoes, the boy in the Cornell T-shirt or the one in flashy-light shoes, like the little girl in a purple velvet dress, come dressed, like their peers, as they please, for three hours of socialization, playing and learning about wonders of life. Parents are always around, visiting or helping.
Each semester carries a combined 12-hour volunteer requirement from adults of each family.
“That’s laughable,†said John Pattenden, father of three. He knows that he and his wife, Maria, a member of the new site Search Committee, spend more than that, doing a range of things like cutting out paper, going to board meetings, washing paint pots and towels or taking care of pets.
“They really do take care of everything,†said Maureen Dwyer, teacher of the 3 and 4 year olds and mother of two teens who attended the school. She has seen parents here continue as volunteer parents throughout their children’s schooling. “A co-op is not for everyone; it demands a lot from parents.â€
This year in particular places demands on the parents as they continually run into roadblocks in their search for a new location. Local churches with the facilities either have an existing daycare program or don’t wish to have one. Houses they could afford to rent have zoning issues; where the zoning is right, the rent is too high or the owner won’t allow them to sublet the space in the afternoons and evenings when they won’t utilize it, which would help them make the monthly rent. The search has expanded into Hillsborough, Northern Chatham and Western Durham.
The latest leads are directing them to a location in Durham, which will be too far for some current families to consider.
But the attitude remains positive.
“Starting over in a new location would almost certainly mean that we would have a new group of families joining us who would not have considered us before because of distance,†said Ed Pickens, president of the school board. “However, I am sure that they would love what we have to offer regardless of location.â€
What they offer besides the obvious is a caring community that provides the kind of support and guidance new parents need during these important, formative years. Besides what is gained by sharing during drop-off and pick-up times, and during volunteer hours in the classroom, there are parenting workshops with child psychologists or occupational therapists.
“Our teachers are so fabulous. I’ve learned so much watching them teach patience, kindness and correct expectations,†said Maria Pattenden. “We have one more year here and we’ll go wherever the preschool goes. We’re committed to wherever the new location is.â€
Knowing that the beneficial traditions of this school need to continue, they remain confidently committed that this will be a move — not a closing.
If you know of a potential location, contact Maria at mariapattenden@gmail.com.
What they’re looking for:
- An affordable lease: $2,000-$3,500 per month
- 2,000-2,500 square feet of indoor space
- 4,000 square feet of outdoor playground space
- Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Northern Chatham or Western Durham