Daycare gets the boot over space issues
SD76 terminates lease for Mother Nature’s Preschool, citing a need for the rooms for Elm Street School students; owner is now scrambling to find a new location for fall
Parents and staff at Elm Street School’s Mother Nature’s Preschool Inc. were shocked to hear Tuesday that their lease with Medicine Hat Public School District No. 76 has been terminated effective Aug. 31, 2018.
“We made them aware of this in the last year this could be a good possibility at the end of this school term,” explains SD76 director of facilities Andy Christie. “Elm Street School is over-crowded with students. Our utilization factor for that school is at over 115 per cent; so we need the space back for our own students. The daycare has been renting two rooms in the building, and we have to get them back for our own use.”
The preschool was originally invited into Elm Street School 18 years ago. The decision to cancel the lease is difficult for everyone involved, says Christie.
“We have to have space for our own students first, and then for community groups,” states Christie. “Community daycares get to use our spaces if we have space for them. If a school is more than 85 per cent full then it is pretty bad. But when they get to 115 per cent, they are really crowded.”
Mother Nature’s Preschool owner/operator Sherry Jean says she is incredibly disappointed with the school district’s decision.
“I got a letter in June where it didn’t come out and say they were terminating my lease, but I took it as a hint,” she remembers. “They said they may need my space. So in November I called Andy Christie and talked to him a bit. I told him I need to know if this is happening so I can let my families and staff know, but they really only need to give me 90 days notice. I didn’t get any feedback from him really, but then I got the termination notice (Feb. 13).”
Jean says she is looking for options but is not exactly sure where to turn to at the moment.
“We need to find a space for about 40 children,” she explains. “To find an early childhood space there is so many criteria attached to that. I think you have to have it zoned properly for that, and you have fire, building and health regulations that need to be in place. You just can’t open a childcare centre anywhere.”
Jean will try hard to find a location in the River Flats area if possible, and continue her service to local parents at an accessible location.
“To our parents, I would say we are looking ahead, and we are going to try our best to be up and running by September,” she states. “We are looking for options out there, and if anyone has got any ideas just send them our way. We just need some help ... I am hoping someone will come forward who has a perfect location for me, or maybe there is an angel investor interested in building a childcare centre. I know that is kind of pie-in-the-sky thinking, but you never know what’s out there that would like to house an early childcare program.”