Enrollment has been particularly low at the Chilkat Valley Preschool this year, and while there is a normal variation in class size, such low numbers will not be sustainable.
Here is Lead Teacher and Executive Director Jessie Wuesthoff:
“These days we have a wonderful staff, and a great playground and a good curriculum and we have about five kids. Last year we had fourteen, the year before we had twelve, and in years past I have heard that the numbers have been in the twenties. It sounds like there is a few more kids turning three pretty soon. I know that in about three years, when my baby turns three there is going to be a lot of kids looking for preschool, but until then I’m not sure.”
The low numbers affect everything. The preschool is partly dependent on tuition for funding, and parents are an important source of energy, volunteer time and candidacy for board membership. Of the current five board members, only two have children enrolled.
Wuesthoff is considering options to deal with the situation. Cutting staff is would be counterproductive.
“We have currently three full time teachers including me, ande we want to keep those teachers because numbers could go up next semester. You know in March, when everyone comes back from their vacations, we want to make sure we’ll be there ready to accept all the kids that need preschool.”
To increase numbers, tuition could be lowered.
“We are just trying to think creatively, really looking at grants, hoping to have a more flexible tuition option for people, like a sliding scale. The dream would be to offer free tuition because we have that much grants.”
Tuition is a large part of the problem.
“This year we have had a few kids leave because they were accepted into Head Start. You just can’t compete with free.”
Another option would be to lower the minimum age and create a toddler program. This presents it’s own set of difficulties.
“We don’t necessarily have the best space for it, because we don’t have multiple rooms, so we’d have to get creative, and the great part about our preschool is that we get to go out into the community like to the library and to the beach, and we can walk anywhere, so toddlers would be a little more challenging.”
The preschool isn’t in financial troubles yet, as federal grant money tied to the pandemic allowed it to build a small reserve. Wuesthoff says she is committed to finding a way forward.
“It’s a really special place, you can tell that the community has cared a lot about it.”
