When my son
turned 3 and became eligible to enroll in nursery school, I had no idea which
school I should choose. I ended up enrolling my son in the preschool closest to
our home, which happened to be the Pleasant Valley Cooperative Nursery School. Wait,
I thought, a cooperative nursery school? What did that even mean?
A
cooperative nursery school is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization owned
and administered by the parents of the children enrolled. Each family is
involved in the operation of the school, which may include attending general
membership meetings, volunteering in the classroom, participating in fundraising,
and even sitting on the executive board.
Some co-ops even
have parents teaching the classes on a rotating basis. Others, like the
Pleasant Valley Cooperative Nursery School, employ professional teachers and
assistants to develop the curriculum and teach the classes.
“The
Pleasant Valley co-op is a school that is run by the parents,” explains school
director Lisa Anthony. “Everyone works together with the common goal of making
our school the best possible place for our children. Enrolling your child in one
of our programs is a wonderful way to enjoy your child’s first educational
experience together.”
The executive
board of parents is elected by the general membership, and spearheads all the
school’s efforts, including fundraising. Fundraising plays a large role within
the cooperative model. Generally, tuition at a cooperative is much lower than
at a traditional nursery school. The fundraising offsets the price of tuition,
keeping early education much more affordable
Parents who
choose a cooperative nursery school may do so for a number of reasons. Some,
like myself, may (initially) choose the school based on location. Others choose
a co-op because they want to be more involved in their child’s early
educational experience.
“As a
working parent, I was worried about how I was going to participate in my son’s
preschool experience,” says Christie Alfaro of Pleasant Valley. “I couldn’t
drop him off in the morning or pick him up in the afternoon, so I felt that I
was not going to be able to witness or view his experience.”
The
cooperative model allowed Alfaro the chance to join the school’s executive board
and to volunteer at special events.
“I’ve also
had the chance to help shape the future direction of the school,” she says. “It’s
rare for a parent to be able to provide not only feedback but to affect true
changes and improvements. I also really love the idea of supporting an
organization that has been a part of our local community for more than 35
years.”
For mother
of two Sophia Skiles, the decision to enroll her kids in Huguenot StreetCooperative Nursery School in New Paltz was fueled by her interest in being
part of an intentional community.
“We were
still fairly new to the area, in addition to being new parents, and we wanted
to be able to get to know the families of the children our kids were becoming
close to,” says Skiles, who is currently the president of the board.
Huguenot
Street enlists the expertise of classroom teachers (both of whom are parents of
alumni), while the parents of enrolled children rotate as helpers in the
classroom daily.
“Every
parent gets a regular opportunity to share the experience of being in class
with his or her child,” says Skiles. “It also means that every family joins the
teacher in offering perspective on your child. Not only do the children grow up
together, it feels like the families do, too.”
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What about families
who are unable to volunteer due to an already hectic schedule? The Pleasant
Valley Cooperative Nursery School recently began offering a non-cooperative
option to accommodate these members of the community. Families who select this
option pay a higher tuition rate and do not share in the governance of the
school.
Most participating
families find the volunteer aspect of the school to be the most rewarding
element.
Jennifer Giorgi of Poughkeepsie currently has her second child
enrolled in the Pleasant Valley Cooperative and her third will be attending in
the fall.
“The best
part about the co-op is that I get to volunteer my time and interact with my
children as they go through the program,” she says. “Plus, I was able to meet
and interact with other parents and their children, too.”
Skiles says
she is amazed at the level of dedication and professionalism in the parents who
volunteer, but notes that the half-day experience at Huguenot can be tricky for
some if more coverage is needed.
“There is a real diversity in parenting — both
parents work, one stay-at-home parent, single parents. Each family finds a way
to make it work,” she says. “Being part of a co-op definitely helps me feel
more present in this very fleeting moment in my children's lives.”
Madelaine Hayes lives in Pleasant Valley with
husband and her son, Billy.