There is a nip in the air as the not-so-hot summer gradually fades into winter.  For preschoolers, it is the time to begin getting used to longer hours at school.  Spots are available for them at the three educational institutions that cater to their needs on the Island – PS/IS 217, Island Kids and the Day Nursery.

Surprisingly enough, the public school, which is a new entrant as far as teaching four-year-olds is concerned, has grabbed the largest chunk of children from the Island.  A whopping 54 of them will be attending the school this Fall.  A third section had to be opened to accommodate this huge population.  Two sections will operate in the mornings (8:30-11:00) and one in the afternoon (12:25-2:55).

Sherry Gregory, the principal, is obviously thrilled.  "It is very gratifying to know that the hard work of the past two years is paying off and that the community is appreciating our efforts towards providing a standards-based education.  Our reading scores are going up and we have just gotten a State award for this.  I am hoping that this translates into even more children joining us next year so that we can have four sections," says Ms. Gregory.

Island Kids, which has a Learning Group for four-year olds, has limited its class size to six this year and has filled its quota.  Gina Enock, the Director of Island Kids, says that people could put their children on the wait-list.  "We will not turn anyone away and will try to accommodate more kids by having more sections if needed."

There are places available in the music and art classes at Island Kids, though.  "We have filled our music, art and tumbling classes for the walking to three-year-old kids but we do have room for more four-year-old children in the classes.  We have an experienced new music teacher whom we are simply waiting to introduce to the kids.  Irene Clark is an Islander and has over two decades of experience in music and dance," says Gina.

Classes at Island Kids cost less than $100 per semester per class.  The cost of attending the Learning Group is also substantially lower than comparative programs elsewhere, at approximately $1000 per semester.

The Day Nursery, which is seen as the "expensive" school, is the one that has the most spots available – six – with 21 enrolled for the full-day program.  This is despite the fact that the school has funds from the Board of Education to subsidize some families.  Sara Seiden, the Director, says, "The Board wants to encourage families to enroll four-year-olds, because it is good for their socialization.  The exposure to varied stimuli means that they will be more successful at school later on.  This is why they have offered us, a community-based organization which has been in the field for over twenty-five years, more money to make the program affordable."

The tuition for a full-day program (8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) for the whole year could be reduced from $7,700 to $5,500 with the subsidy.  Families who require more support could apply for a scholarship and further bring that cost down to about $3,000.  "I urge parents to come to talk to me," says Sara.  "They should try to meet me as soon as possible so I can help them access the money to attend this school.  All four-year-olds with birth dates in 1996 qualify for aid.  If I cannot help get them into my school, I could help connect them to a school where they could go for even less."

Sara believes that the main reason why people are not bringing their kids to her school is that rents in Manhattan Park have gone up so much this year.  "People are choosing to spend their money differently.  They figure that their child can wait another year before going to a private school or for a full-day program."

The public school program being free is certainly a great pull factor for it.  Even so, Sara thinks the programs differ enough that there is a need for both on the Island.  "What the public school offers is not what the Day Nursery does.  There is most certainly a variegated segment that we serve.  We are offering a full-day program, which the public school is not.  We are definitely not competing against them.  The Board of Education has funded both schools knowing this.  In fact, the Board is willing to let us expand further, but we do not have the physical space for the expansion.  Our costs are going up and, even though the space given is free, we now have to pay for electricity.  Maintenance and insurance are expensive.  Don't forget that we are cheaper than a lot of schools in the City," says Sara.

Sherry Gregory of PS/IS 217 can be reached at 980-0294, Gina Enock at 758-8408, and Sara Seiden at 593-0750.