A preschool in downtown Sonoma is at risk of closing unless it collects $40,000 in unpaid rent and payroll taxes, on top of current teacher salaries.
“If sufficient funds are not raised, the Old Adobe School has set a closing date of Friday, January 26th,” said Carly Fedor, Marnie Soles, and members of the preschool’s all-volunteer board of directors. Michaela Murray and Adrie Stevens said in the article. Email Index-Tribune.
“At this time, we will not comment on the reasons for our financial situation,” they wrote.
Current and former parents and teachers, including four board members, are actively reaching out to individuals and businesses who may be able to donate immediately to the preschool, located at 252 W. Spain St. I am.
Most donations are accepted through oldadobeschool.org/donate and we are always accepting donations.
“We are pleased to announce that the first $10,000 donated to Old Adobe School will be matched by generous donors Turk and Diane Bond,” the email said. . “We encourage the community to take advantage of this match by donating as soon as possible.”
A GoFundMe page created by some of the current Old Adobe families has also been set up to help raise $40,000.
Board members said in an email that the company was in the process of searching for several new board members when the financial problems came to light.
“After a long and enjoyable time on the old Adobe board, several members were preparing to retire,” the email said. “At this time, we are recruiting new members to bring new ideas and solutions into the midst of this struggle.
“Once the new board is established, a new budget will be outlined and any additional funding needs identified.”
There is also a vacancy in the position of director, and the board of directors is accepting inquiries.
The Old Adobe School currently enrolls about 30 students ages 2 to 5, most of whom live in Sonoma and others in Glen Ellen and Kenwood.
The preschool was founded in 1980 by parents who felt the need to educate their children in an inclusive environment.
“Formerly Adobe’s mission has always been to provide high-quality early childhood education to a diverse population through a variety of educational philosophies, contemporary teaching, and scientific research,” board members wrote.
They added that Old Adobe is a play-based preschool that utilizes a combination of educational philosophies to provide a nurturing environment in which children of all abilities can thrive.
“By leveraging a combination of philosophies such as the Montessori approach and the Reggio-inspired approach, and by continually developing a curriculum that implements best practices in the field of early childhood education, Old Adobe We can provide a motivating environment where you can learn and grow through exploration,” they write. “Although seemingly casual, the lessons are cleverly structured so that children’s play and activities promote their overall physical, cognitive and social development.”
Contact reporter Dan Johnson at daniel.johnson@sonomanews.com.