Leelanau CHILDREN’S CENTER INCREASES CAPACITY AS IT MOVES TO PRESCHOOL ONLY PROGRAMMING

LEELANAU COUNTY – February 4, 2021 – In an effort to serve more children before they enter kindergarten, the Leelanau Children’s Center (LCC) will move to all preschool programming, eliminating the one toddler classroom they have had since 2006.

Heidi Kruse, Executive Director, stated that the Board of Directors made the decision after a thoughtful and thorough discussion at their most recent board meeting on January 25th. Kruse stated that “the decision was not made lightly” and cited several factors that led to the decision.

“LCC has had an extensive waitlist for years, and the new programming will allow us to expand our preschool programming focusing on social and emotional development, which lays the groundwork for both school and life success”, Kruse stated. The new programming also allows the Children’s Center to better prepare as they consider the opportunity to participate in a pilot program specifically designed to serve eligible 3-year-olds. The program could begin as early as Fall 2021. Multiple county organizations, including LCC, are collaborating to address the critical shortage of affordable infant and toddler care in the county. “We can contribute our knowledge of high-quality early childhood education and can help train new childcare providers even though we will no longer be providing that care ourselves”, Kruse added. The Children’s Center is known for helping to increase school readiness through interactive engagement and inquiry-based activities using a play-based approach with a focus on building positive relationships with children and partnering with their families. The infant-toddler collaborative is aiming to have three new home-based childcare providers open by fall.

Moving toward fiscal sustainability was also a factor in the decision. “As a non-profit organization, we have a responsibility to operate in a fiscally responsible manner”, stated Patricia Seiler, Board President. The cost of toddler care in a center environment far exceeds the tuition charged. For years LCC has been scrambling to cover the difference. In a response to COVID-19, the center had to reduce its class size by over a third, further reducing tuition revenue. Another COVID-19 blow to the organization’s income was the cancellation of two key fundraising events, which depleted the operating budget to a critical point. “The decision to change programming to preschool only was one we just had to make; we wanted to ensure that LCC will be here for our future generations”, Seiler added.

While the decision is disappointing for some families, others will reap the benefits of the expanded preschool programming. The decision to begin the new programming at the end of the current school year allows LCC the time it will need to adjust their curriculum, secure staffing and modify their classrooms. New enrollment age requirements beginning Fall 2021 will be thirty months and developmentally ready for a preschool environment. LCC’s summer program has been preschool only since 2018 and will continue as preschool only for summer 2021. For enrollment information, contact Molly Grosvenor at molly@leelanauchildrenscenter.org.

About Leelanau Children’s Center (LCC)

The Leelanau Children's Center provides high quality early childhood educational programs and advocates for children, parents and families. LCC has been nurturing and empowering young children and families since 1976. Founded as a playgroup at the Leland United Methodist Church, LCC has grown into one of the highest rated early childhood education programs in Michigan. The program is known for its center-based care for preschoolers.