Community preschool fears closure
Parents and staff at a community preschool fear it may have to close its doors after nearly three decades.
But Auckland Council manager of community policy Liz Civil says a final decision is yet to be made. Avondale Community Preschool is currently housed in a purpose-built facility located inside Avondale Community Centre.
The council has allocated in its long-term plan more than $5 million for replacing the community centre.
Head teacher Jenna Close said the preschool’s concern came about in 2014 when the not-forprofit incorporated society was told by the council it would not be making provisions for a preschool in its new community centre.
Close said a lot of families will be displaced if the communityfocussed preschool was not included in the new facility.
‘‘We want to be part of the conversation about the plans for moving the community centre,’’ she said.
Civil said community groups such as Avondale Community Preschool could submit feedback to the Whau Local Board.
‘‘This will inform the detailed business case on the future of Avondale’s community centre,’’ she said.
The public gave feedback on the Whau Local Board’s draft plan for 2017 earlier this year, and Close said supporters of the preschool made 53 submissions to include it in Avondale’s new community facility. There were also submissions made online.
Building a community facility in Avondale was one of the initiatives mentioned in the draft plan.
Close said the preschool was a not-for-profit incorporated society headed by a volunteer parent governance committee.
Civil said the council had not made a decision on the specific services to be offered at the centre.
‘‘Once an approach has been agreed, a detailed business case will be prepared that will examine in more detail the range of community services that will be available at the centre.’’
Close said there were about 30 children aged 2 to 5 enrolled at the centre.
She said about 95 per cent of the families were eligible for the Work and Income Childcare subsidy.