School, city partner up to seek long-term preschool solution

GRUNDY CENTER – For the past eight years, the Grundy Community Preschool and Childcare Center has made its home in the old Upper Elementary School building, thanks to a cooperative partnership between the city of Grundy Center and the Grundy Center Community School District.
But due to a number of factors, GCP&CC is looking to explore options for a new long-term home, and they are seeking help and collaboration from the city and the school to make it happen.
Though the whole process is only in the most preliminary of stages right now, representatives from the city, the school and GCP&CC met for a collaborative meeting last week to discuss the short-term and long-term needs of the preschool and possible solutions.
Jill May, a GCP&CC board member, explained that there are a number of factors involved in the need for a new or different facility.
One of the biggest ones is that the preschool has been at capacity for some time, and they have had to turn potential students away. This has led to a need for additional classroom space to help solve the issue of the current waiting list.
According to May, the current preschool enrollment for three and four year olds combined is 79 children. The waiting list for the 2017-2018 school year includes a total of 18 children from three to four years old. For the 2018-2019 school year, there are two three year olds waiting, and for the 2019-2020 school year, there is already one three year old student waiting.
“There is no doubt the need is great,” May said. “The Upper Elementary was a short-term solution, and the City graciously got involved to maintain a home for [GCP&CC and] several community entities via subleases. But, it’s time to find long-term solutions.”
For the full story, see this week's edition of The Grundy Register.