Temple Sholom seeks to expand its nursery school enrollment

GREENWICH — Burgeoning demand for more preschool education in town is leading Temple Sholom in central Greenwich to seek an expansion of its nursery school.

The temple has filed a proposal with the Planning and Zoning Commission to increase enrollment from 109 to 148 young learners at the Selma Maisel Nursery School, which operates on the synagogue’s campus on East Putnam Avenue.

There has been a waiting list to enroll in the nursery program at Temple Sholom, according to the application, and the added capacity would allow those families to be served. The school would open two classrooms that are used on a part-time basis to full capacity, and there would be no expansion of the facilities, according to the proposal.

School director David Cohen stated in the application that the administration was looking to stagger arrival and departure times to minimize the traffic volume along East Putnam Avenue near its campus.

“Temple Sholom will continuously monitor the traffic and parking. A staff person will be present to monitor the flow of traffic, ensuring cars will not back up on East Putnam Avenue,” according to Cohen.

The school offers both a full-day and a half-day program for preschool students. For parents and caregivers picking up students in the full-day program, a teacher takes the youngsters outside for a “quick and efficient process” to get them into cars, Cohen said.

According to the school, the preschool education provided is “guided by Jewish values,” though it is open to families of all faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. It was founded in 1991. The preschool also offers a “multilevel state-of-the-art playground,” a raised garden, gymnastics facilities and other amenities for youngsters.

The application is set to be reviewed in preliminary form at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 13.