A new preschool run by Taylor YMCA is planned on the near west side of Elgin, which proponents say addresses the need for more early childhood classes.
The planning and zoning commission Monday OK’d a proposal by the YMCA to establish the preschool at 1111 Van St., in the building that used to house Good Shepherd Lutheran School until it closed in 2012. The building is owned by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Nesler Road where there is also a preschool.
The preschool on Van Street — about half a mile from the YMCA on McLean Boulevard — will accept up to 60 students and employ about 10 staff members, including part-timers, said David Burisek, executive director of the Taylor YMCA. The goal is to hire at least one bilingual teacher, he said.
The preschool first will accommodate 3- and 4-year-olds; 5-year-olds might be added in the future, he said.
“After having discussions with representatives from (Elgin Area School District) U46 and ACE (the Alignment for Collaborative Education), we understand there is really a need for early childhood education,” he said. “And with the church and the YMCA’s mission, it makes sense.”
Less than 2,000 of the 6,000 children ages 3 or 4 within U-46 boundaries are being served by public and private preschool classes, according to data presented by the YMCA to the planning and zoning commission.
“The sooner we can educate and get children learning and develop at their grade level, the better they are in life,” Burisek said.
Good Shepherd senior pastor Steve Maske said the church has been working on connecting more with the community and runs a Hispanic ministry, “Vida y Fe,” or “Life and Faith,” out of the Van Street church building.
“We were approached by the YMCA to consider hosting the preschool, which I thought was a great fit,” he said.
The YMCA already runs Zumba and art classes in the school building, whose existing classrooms and gymnasium can accommodate the preschoolers. A grant for $25,000 from Grand Victoria Foundation will pay for desks, chairs and school materials, and about $5,000 from operating expenses will pay for a new, fenced-in playground, Burisek said.
The city council will consider approving the project’s conditional use permit March 8 with a final vote expected March 22, said Elgin senior planner Damir Latinovic.
If all moves forward, the YMCA will work on finalizing its licensing process through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services with the goal of registering kids in April or May and start classes in the fall, Burisek said.
Staff members will help families who can’t afford school fees to apply for child care state subsidies, and some YMCA scholarships will be available, he said.
The Elgin YMCA is part of Golden Corridor Family YMCA, which also runs a preschool in Schaumburg.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
