What Does it Mean to be a Co-op Preschool?

We have been a parent-led cooperative since 1943. While a professional teaching staff runs the program, member families are responsible for helping as classroom volunteers, cleaning, maintenance, and fundraising. This keeps tuition low and allows parents to become fully engaged in their child’s education. Parental involvement creates a strong sense of community and a dynamic curriculum. Parents are invited to share an experience, skill, hobby or their workplace with the children. A week of the curriculum may even be created around the theme.

Four areas of your involvement include:

1. Parent Helping

Child Center parents help the teachers with the morning program approximately once a month. Duties include assisting children with coats and dressing, supervising play, reading, preparing a snack, and cleaning up. The parent helping experience allows parents to observe their child’s growth, development, and interaction with other children, get to know the other children and observe the program first hand.

We understand that not every family has the flexibility to participate in parent helping and we have several options available to help.  If you are unable to attend on your assigned day you may trade days with another parent or hire an approved substitute for $40.

2. Cleaning

Each family is asked to thoroughly clean the school one or two weekends per year. This usually takes two to three hours and can be done any time after school ends on Friday and before school starts on Monday.  Families sometimes bring their children to play while they clean.  If you prefer to hire a school-approved professional cleaner, you may arrange to do so with the school director.

3. Maintenance

Each family is responsible for 10 hours of maintenance each year. Maintenance can include basic building repairs, additional cleaning, small projects, committee chair or board member positions.  Parents may elect, at the start of the year, to pay $250 in lieu of the maintenance work required.

Board Member Position Descriptions

4. Fundraising

Our biggest fundraiser is the fall Clothing Sale. All families are expected to participate. During this extremely popular community event, people donate or consign gently used clothing and/or are able to purchase great clothing at reasonable prices.