My daughter will be moving to kindergarten in the fall so the impact will not be severe for us, but this will be a significant loss for the community. This decision itself, and the short notice for families whose children would be continuing in the fall are shameful.
M
Margaret LaFleur
2 years ago
ECC Parent
K
Kelsey Andahazy
2 years ago
My son is currently enrolled in the Early Learning class. We have tried several preschools in the city of St. Paul and have finally, FINALLY found what we considered the absolute best fit for our son. The care and love the ECC teachers give my son daily brings tears to my eyes. I have watched him flourish under their care, becoming a confident, respectful, and excited learner. Additionally, he is receiving services from Fontbonne Speech Therapists. What program in St. Paul can tout that level of education and specialized services?! We are devastated that the university has suddenly decided the program and its mission is no longer worth supporting.
C
Claire Repp
2 years ago
I am an ECC alum and a current ECC parent. This center has served the Mac Groveland community for generations and would be a tremendous loss. Please sign and support!
M
Marie Murphy
2 years ago
As a grandparent of a current ECC student, an alumni of St. Kate's and a licensed early childhood teacher, I am shocked and saddened by this abrupt closure. The ECC has been in our community for 80 years and has provided quality education for so many children. My nieces attended the school and I was quick to recommend the ECC to my son and daughter-in-law when they were searching for the right place for their child, Finn. We were looking forward to having his sister Lily there this next school year. My other daughter-in-law is currently in PA school at St. Kates, and she has volunteered at the ECC as part of her program. My understanding is that other current students at St. Kate's also use the ECC as an opportunity to practice or observe current best practice. I know speech and language visits, OT, etc. What a gift to the students in these programs and to the ECC students.
S
Steven Lang
2 years ago
Featured
Transparency and stakeholder involvement - this lesson needs to be learned over and over apparently. I urge University Leadership and the Board of Regents to rethink this, and offer some amends beyond the information that should have been provided a long time ago.
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
.
L
Lily Crooks
2 years ago
Now, as slowly but surely our elected leaders and legislators are finally beginning to invest in early childhood as a public good, is the most important time to maintain high quality community child care centers. This center provides excellent care and service to the students and staff of st Kate's as well as the greater community, and deserves to be presented and invested in.
K
Katie Iacarella
2 years ago
The lack of advanced notice and parent involvement in this decision has left all of us reeling. We are devastated for the loss of this community and struggling to find alternate care options. As a family with two working parents we rely on childcare. We ask that St Kate’s consider. If the issue is finances or space, we have options.
R
Raechel Koppen
2 years ago
There must be a way to keep this preschool afloat! If finances are the issue, it would be possible to create a go fund me and the community will donate! I’m sure of it!
T
Theresa Wertheim
2 years ago
As a concerned grandparent of two children attending ECC I am saddened by the closure of the school, especially by the short notice given to the families. Finding reliable, quality daycare is at the heart of successfully raising children in an economic environment where most parents work outside the home. As a society that purports to value the family we need to consider the real life implications of decisions that effect the day to day lives of parents and children.
If finances are the driving factor in this decision perhaps the community could fund raise to close the gap. Ms. Gran I urge you and your board to reconsider the decision to close the school so abruptly.
Thank you,
Theresa Wertheim
G
Glenn Wertheim
2 years ago
Such an important contribution & connection to the community. The positive impressions from the school fan out so widely beyond the students, & this benefits St. Kate's in direct & indirect ways overall.
L
Laura Joseph
2 years ago
Our daughter was born during the pandemic and has experienced social anxiety. She has flourished at the ECC thanks to the respectful, child-led learning environment fostered by the amazing Montessori teachers at the school. We are extremely disconcerted by the information St. Kate's CFO shared that the decision was years in the making and yet they have given caregivers/parents and staff such short notice and no opportunity to be informed or involved. If the decision is as considered as they are indicating, they must know that three months is not a reasonable timeline for families to find alternative childcare. We had been on waitlists for several years when our daughter was admitted to the ECC in the fall 2023. It sounds like the decision to close was well in progress while they were admitting new students and recruiting and hiring new staff. The mission statement of St. Kate's indicates that is aspires to develop leaders who act with integrity. We hope that the leadership will recognize that this divestment in early childhood education does not reflect that mission and requires broader stakeholder input and involvement.
My daughter will be moving to kindergarten in the fall so the impact will not be severe for us, but this will be a significant loss for the community. This decision itself, and the short notice for families whose children would be continuing in the fall are shameful.
ECC Parent
My son is currently enrolled in the Early Learning class. We have tried several preschools in the city of St. Paul and have finally, FINALLY found what we considered the absolute best fit for our son. The care and love the ECC teachers give my son daily brings tears to my eyes. I have watched him flourish under their care, becoming a confident, respectful, and excited learner. Additionally, he is receiving services from Fontbonne Speech Therapists. What program in St. Paul can tout that level of education and specialized services?! We are devastated that the university has suddenly decided the program and its mission is no longer worth supporting.
I am an ECC alum and a current ECC parent. This center has served the Mac Groveland community for generations and would be a tremendous loss. Please sign and support!
As a grandparent of a current ECC student, an alumni of St. Kate's and a licensed early childhood teacher, I am shocked and saddened by this abrupt closure. The ECC has been in our community for 80 years and has provided quality education for so many children. My nieces attended the school and I was quick to recommend the ECC to my son and daughter-in-law when they were searching for the right place for their child, Finn. We were looking forward to having his sister Lily there this next school year. My other daughter-in-law is currently in PA school at St. Kates, and she has volunteered at the ECC as part of her program. My understanding is that other current students at St. Kate's also use the ECC as an opportunity to practice or observe current best practice. I know speech and language visits, OT, etc. What a gift to the students in these programs and to the ECC students.
Transparency and stakeholder involvement - this lesson needs to be learned over and over apparently. I urge University Leadership and the Board of Regents to rethink this, and offer some amends beyond the information that should have been provided a long time ago.
.
Now, as slowly but surely our elected leaders and legislators are finally beginning to invest in early childhood as a public good, is the most important time to maintain high quality community child care centers. This center provides excellent care and service to the students and staff of st Kate's as well as the greater community, and deserves to be presented and invested in.
The lack of advanced notice and parent involvement in this decision has left all of us reeling. We are devastated for the loss of this community and struggling to find alternate care options. As a family with two working parents we rely on childcare. We ask that St Kate’s consider. If the issue is finances or space, we have options.
There must be a way to keep this preschool afloat! If finances are the issue, it would be possible to create a go fund me and the community will donate! I’m sure of it!
As a concerned grandparent of two children attending ECC I am saddened by the closure of the school, especially by the short notice given to the families. Finding reliable, quality daycare is at the heart of successfully raising children in an economic environment where most parents work outside the home. As a society that purports to value the family we need to consider the real life implications of decisions that effect the day to day lives of parents and children. If finances are the driving factor in this decision perhaps the community could fund raise to close the gap. Ms. Gran I urge you and your board to reconsider the decision to close the school so abruptly. Thank you, Theresa Wertheim
Such an important contribution & connection to the community. The positive impressions from the school fan out so widely beyond the students, & this benefits St. Kate's in direct & indirect ways overall.
Our daughter was born during the pandemic and has experienced social anxiety. She has flourished at the ECC thanks to the respectful, child-led learning environment fostered by the amazing Montessori teachers at the school. We are extremely disconcerted by the information St. Kate's CFO shared that the decision was years in the making and yet they have given caregivers/parents and staff such short notice and no opportunity to be informed or involved. If the decision is as considered as they are indicating, they must know that three months is not a reasonable timeline for families to find alternative childcare. We had been on waitlists for several years when our daughter was admitted to the ECC in the fall 2023. It sounds like the decision to close was well in progress while they were admitting new students and recruiting and hiring new staff. The mission statement of St. Kate's indicates that is aspires to develop leaders who act with integrity. We hope that the leadership will recognize that this divestment in early childhood education does not reflect that mission and requires broader stakeholder input and involvement.
Parent of a current and a former ECC student
Parent of current ECC student