Merced Parent Preschool to close after 68 years

Merced Parent Preschool, known to many as the “Little Red Schoolhouse,” will close its doors at the end of this school year after 68 years as an educational staple in the community.

The parent co-op preschool, operated by the Merced Union High School District’s Adult School, recently received notice that it would lose the state funding that kept it running.

Debbie Glass, principal of the Merced Adult School, said that since 1950 when it became affiliated with the district’s adult school, Merced Parent Preschool has been funded by the California Department of Education. But new legislation narrowed down the adult education categories funded by the state, eliminating parent education classes such as those offered at Merced Parent Preschool.

Glass said the district has known this could be a possibility for about a year, but it received verification last month.

The news was especially hard for the preschool’s director, Jean Robbins, and assistant Paula Rodriguez, who have dedicated almost three decades to Merced parents and their children.

Robbins, who planned to retire this year, had high hopes that the preschool’s legacy would continue beyond her time there. She sees the closure as a loss for the community.

“Parent education cannot be overemphasized and there’s a big lack of it in our society,” Robbins said. “Unfortunately, you can’t argue with money.”

Through the preschool program Robbins and Rodriguez offered lessons on topics ranging from discipline to kindergarten readiness and learning modalities. Parents are required to volunteer in the classroom one day a week and pay a small fee.

“The purpose of this (program) is to get these children started on the right foot, loving school, and promoting parent involvement, which is critical for children to be successful,” Robbins said.

She estimates more than 500 families and several generations have set foot in the preschool over the course of its existence. She said it is common for the children she taught as preschoolers to return to the school as parents.

The preschool, established in 1947, has seen some changes in Robbins’ time as director. She changed the name of the program from Merced Parent Nursery to Merced Parent Preschool in an attempt to modernize it.

At Robbins’ request, the preschool has also seen some physical changes. The playground was remodeled four times, the size of the kitchen was doubled and an art room with plenty of natural light was added. All these changes, she believes, made the school more welcoming and attractive to children.

Parents are also having a hard time coping with news of the closure. Robbins said she is not surprised to learn that some parents have shed tears, because many families have invested years in the “Little Red Schoolhouse.”

Merced resident Kristi Rieg has spent seven years at the preschool taking classes with her four children. For her, the news was unexpected and sad.

“It’s such an important part of our community,” Rieg said. She believes Robbins and Rodriguez’s teaching methods have helped shape her parenting skills. “They have a very unique approach,” Rieg said. “I’ve been affiliated with other preschools and it’s hard not to notice the difference – it’s night and day; this place is great.”

The preschool’s final day will be graduation on May 29.

Rodriguez has created a Facebook page titled “Merced Parent Preschool 1947-2015” for alumni to share photos and memories. Rodriguez, who celebrated 30 years at the preschool this year, said it has given her more than she could hope for.

“I think I’ve been in mourning ever since we found out,” Rodriguez said. “It’s hard to say goodbye; I had hopes that funding would last a little longer.”

Could the preschool be resurrected? Glass said it’s not impossible, but at this time the district does not see funding capabilities that would allow it.

Plans for the preschool building have not been determined. But in education there is always a use for facilities, Glass said.

Robbins and Rodriguez said they will miss the children and the families, and they are grateful for the help they’ve received over the years.

“We’re just thankful that parents let us be part of their lives and families,” Robbins said. She and Rodriguez plan to organize a final reunion with alumni at the end of the school year.

This story was originally published March 27, 2015 at 6:33 PM with the headline "Merced Parent Preschool to close after 68 years."