Home Antioch Letter to Editor: Kids’ Club Preschool Will Be Closing Permanently in June 2015

Letter to Editor: Kids’ Club Preschool Will Be Closing Permanently in June 2015

by ECT

Dear Editor,

Kids’ Club Preschool, the largest state funded preschool in Contra Costa County, will be closing permanently in June 2015. The program is internationally recognized and nationally accredited.

Kids’ Club Preschool has been caring for the families and educating the young children of Antioch for over 20 years. Kids’ Club Preschool is an excellent kindergarten preparation program with proven results and a strong track record. The elimination of these essential early education services will have a significant impact on the community with the loss of 300 subsidized preschool slots. The closure is due to the loss of the lease with Antioch Unified School District.

  • Kids’ Club Preschool was started by AUSD and the City of Antioch to provide childcare and preschool services. AUSD is currently unwilling to renegotiate or continue with the lease.
  • Kids’ Club Preschool is financially strong, receiving no financial assistance from either AUSD or the City of Antioch. Contracts for direct services are held with the CA Department of Education and Contra Costa County.
  • Kids’ Club Preschool has the most accreditation’s of any center in the county, with National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), HighScope Educational Research Foundation Certification and is a participant in the federally funded pilot program, Race to the Top.
  • Families receiving services from Kids’ Club Preschool receive free part-day preschool programming or a significant subsidy on full day preschool.

It has been documented many times over that a healthy preschool learning environment is a chief determinant and high indicator of academic success across all demographics, nationwide.

  • The parents are left wondering who will care for their families and who will educate their children.
  • The young students are anxious about losing their friends, and are wondering why they can’t go to school next year.
  • Staff members and volunteers are concerned about the social and economic effects on the community.
  • The funders are left with questions such as “Why is Kids’ Club Preschool not receiving the same level of support as programs in neighboring communities?”
  • Kids’ Club Preschool supporters are demanding answers to questions: Why have there been no negotiations? Who will provide the services? Why does a district with reduced enrollment need the space occupied by the preschool?

Presently, Kids’ Club Preschool is housed at the Bidwell Educational Campus, an AUSD facility. AUSD administration has not negotiated on the current space, nor have they presented viable options for alternative locations on district property. Without assistance from the community, Kids’ Club Preschool, an extremely high quality preschool program will be closing permanently.

A parent meeting on this topic is scheduled for Wednesday, 4/1/15 at 5 PM in the Bidwell cafeteria.

Mark Mokski
Executive Director Kids Club Preschool

Sara Octaviano
Chairperson, Parent Advisory Committee Kids’ Club Preschool

Editors Note: Although this is a Letter to the Editor from the Executive Director… we would like to remind the public that the school was given notice of around 1-year to vacate and given several locations to relocate.

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1 comment

Julio Apr 3, 2015 - 3:24 pm

It is really sad that this group of caring people has taken this way of communication. As ECT mentions they have known this for nearly a year. What were the other spaces offered? When did they first notify the parents? It seems to me there are plenty of empty spaces all over Antioch that could work. Businesses are leaving town every week. Is the school doing this on purpose?

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