Members of a parent-run preschool that has operated out of Queensbury elementary for the past 35 years say they’re shocked and disappointed after learning they’ll be kicked out of the location in favour of a Langley-based child-care company.
The change means the parent-participation preschool doesn’t have a space to operate from as of the end of June, said Rob Young, president of the non-profit society that has run Grand Boulevard Preschool from the site for more than three decades. “We don’t have a facility to operate out of right now,” he said.
Bee Haven Childcare, a North Vancouver-based child-care service that has provided a before and after school program at the school for two years in partnership with the preschool, is also getting the boot in favour of the new company.
“Everyone’s highly disappointed,” said Vicky Sra, a mother whose four-year-old attends the preschool and who lives a block from the school.
Sra said it’s especially upsetting that the contract for child care will go to a company from elsewhere in the Lower Mainland when the request for proposals specifically set out the importance of connections to the North Vancouver community.
Sra said her sisters’ older kids also went to the preschool. “It’s in the community. We have a history there,” she said.
Louise Warner, owner of Bee Haven, said she’s heard several large local daycare operators decided not to bid when the contract came up, because Grand Boulevard and Bee Haven already have a great reputation. “We’ve been very involved in the community,” said Warner. “I’m disappointed for the parents.”
Sra said the preschool has provided more than learning for her child. It’s also been a hub that’s offered parent education and connection.
But Sra said she feels those values were given short shrift when the school district opted for a child-care business from off the North Shore.
Young said the preschool and Bee Haven have successfully been sharing space in a portable and have both been paying towards the $2,500 monthly rent.
The portable up for lease was originally purchased as a space to run the preschool after the preschool and school district joined forces to successfully apply for a $164,000 provincial grant, he added.
The preschool currently has 17 kids enrolled and offers programs five days a week, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. That’s more days and hours than other preschools offer, said Sra — who phoned around after learning the Grand Boulevard group’s lease wouldn’t be renewed.
Young said the preschool was told a year ago that the five-year lease would go out to a competitive bidding process when it expired this year. The preschool submitted a proposal in May but didn’t receive word they were not the successful bidder until two weeks ago.
Young said the school district has given his group minimal information about why they weren’t chosen, except that the preschool scored lower on budget and financial categories.
But Sra said the non-profit parents’ group and a commercial business have different goals. “We’re there to support the community,” she said.
Because the school district is still in final negotiations with the successful bidder, spokes-woman Victoria Miles said nobody was prepared to comment on the change in the lease. Miles said it’s up to the school district to decide whether or not to seek proposals when a lease is up for renewal.
The owner of Rainforest Learning Centres — reportedly the successful bidder — which currently operates child care in Coquitlam and Langley, could not be reached for comment by deadline.According to the company’s website, the business offers child-based learning with a focus on connection to the community and environmental learning.
