As many residents are aware, Morrison Community Preschool (MCP) is in need of a new location. The nonprofit preschool, founded in 1969, was housed inside Morrison United Methodist Church until 2015, when a change in Fire Code forced the move to a classroom at Northside Elementary School.
Now, after 52 years of cultivating the social, emotional, and academic growth of three-, four-, and five-year-olds in the Morrison area, MCP is very likely to close its doors.
The Director and MCP Board would like to extend immense gratitude to the many local organizations and facilities that have helped us explore possibilities, that would allow us to continue educating our nearly 40 students every year.
Unfortunately, these spaces have not been able to meet the Fire Code and space requirements of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS.) DCFS licensure is required in order for the preschool to operate legally and safely.
Residents may not be aware of the preschool’s longstanding history in the community. MCP began in May of 1969 as the Morrison Community Nursery School. The mission was to provide a structured environment, where children could socialize and prepare academically for public school. The program’s first Director was Meg Renkes, and the board consisted of Phyllis Weinstine, Sharon Waller, Jene Jost, Philip J. Renkes, and Walter Kilgus. At the time, the board even used telegrams to contact each other about upcoming meetings.
Since then MCP has gone through numerous dedicated Directors, including Joann Kilgus, Cathy VanHorn, Pam Renkes, Deb Hauptmann, Ellen Pannier, Alice Cook, Marsha Geerts, Teri Bealer, Carol Hollister, Pam Murr, Jennifer Wolf, and the current Director, Anne Mills.
The MCP Board has made the difficult decision to dissolve the half-century old organization if a new location is not found by May 21, 2021. Unfortunately, this rapidly approaching deadline is necessary, because if MCP were to find an available location, the organization would need to accomplish many tasks. These include giving 30 days notice to DCFS before moving; scheduling multiple inspections; completing the licensure process; making any necessary building upgrades.
Losing MCP would mean that 26 students who are already registered for next year may not be able to have this essential early childhood education experience. Early childhood education is a crucial step in both the short-term and long-term growth of children. Participating in a preschool that staffs licensed educators not only prepares students for the social, emotional, and academic needs of kindergarten, but it also lessens the chance of a student being retained in later years.
If you are aware of possibilities that MCP should explore, please contact MCP Director Anne Mills at morrisonscommunitypreschool@gmail.com or 815-718-5773 as soon as possible.
Again, we appreciate the community’s efforts in continuing to keep this essential program open to the young children of the Morrison community. The Director and MCP Board would also like to thank Morrison United Methodist Church and Northside Elementary School, for the years the preschool was able to stay at these locations, and the United Way of Whiteside County for the generous funding it provided to the preschool for many years.