With the shared objective of providing outstanding early learning for infants to pre-kindergarten, The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah and The Jewish Community Center (The J) are moving forward with a new collaboration.
Under this partnership, the Child Development Center (CDC) at The J will assume management of the B’nai Jehudah Preschool, housed in the congregation’s building at 12320 Nall. The B’nai Jehudah Preschool’s name will be modified in 2017 to reflect the expanded nature of its services.
The J will assume management of the preschool program beginning in August 2017. The management change will include B’nai Jehudah Preschool’s staff reporting to The J’s Child Development Center Director Machaela Whelan.
Discussions of a potential partnership began earlier this year due to the common goals and longstanding histories of both organizations. The size of B’nai Jehudah’s preschool has been a concern for the past several years and this year had been considered as an interim year. There are currently 25 students enrolled at the school, which is licensed for up to 65 students. Programs include Mother’s Day Out beginning at 12 months through pre-K and are offered from 9 a.m. to noon with some afternoon enrichment available until 2 p.m.
CDC enrollment — students also range in age from 12 months through pre-K — currently stands at 225 students, which is 99 percent of licensed capacity. Options include full time from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and part-time for two, three or five half days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“When we have a vacancy we typically fill it in short order,” explained Jim Sluyter, The J’s president and CEO.
According to an email sent to B’nai Jehudah members last week, all of the congregation’s preschool teachers “have been invited to accept positions with The J to teach in one of their — or our — preschool programs.” That includes the interim preschool’s director, Shelley Hedrick.
“We are immensely grateful to Shelley for all the work she has done for our congregation, first as our religious school director and then — this year — as our interim preschool director. Her gifts have enhanced our children, our families and our community. When she agreed to help us this year as our interim director while we decided the right path for our preschool program, she understood it was a one-year commitment. And she has excelled in the months in which she has assumed this new role. Now, she has the opportunity to speak with the JCC about becoming the on-site administration representative, but it will be up to her to decide if she wants to have the conversation and up to the JCC to decide who will be their staff person on site. Whatever choices Shelley makes for her future, we will be always indebted to her for her service to B’nai Jehudah and to our families,” said B’nai Jehudah Senior Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff.
The J’s CDC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and is committed to promoting high-quality learning for all young children. Long recognized for its work, the CDC focuses on a three-tiered educational approach helping children to learn, develop and grow in a nurturing and caring environment fostered by Jewish values. The J plans to review the possibility of NAEYC accreditation for the B’nai Jehudah Preschool.
“We’re delighted to move forward in combining the best of both worlds at B’nai Jehudah’s Preschool,” said B’nai Jehudah’s Executive Director Jeanne Adler. “We firmly believe The Jewish Community Center will bring an enhanced level of enriching experiences for our students and parents, and we will be working closely with them on this partnership.”
Rabbi Nemitoff added, “Our goal has always been to bring positive Jewish learning and experiences to our youngest. Partnering with The J will bring a new and fabulous dimension to our endeavors. This is what community collaboration is all about.”
Adding infant care
Under the auspices of The J, the new partnership will allow for infant care to take place at B’nai Jehudah’s building. The J will be taking immediate steps to obtain the appropriate licensing for infant care. It will be the only program that offers infant care in the Jewish community, which will enhance The J’s and B’nai Jehudah’s current slate of offerings that start at 12 months. The unified program will maintain the teaching philosophy that integrates a platform of Jewish values, including the joy of living and learning into the total educational and care experience.
The J’s Sluyter said infant care, at least in this first year, will be very limited. Based on licensing requirements, he estimates there will only be six or nine spots for infants for the 2017-18 school year in just one classroom.
He believes interest in infant care is high.
“We think there is a demand for it, which is why we are looking at it.”
Curriculums and costs
Sluyter said under The J’s leadership, B’nai Jehudah Preschool will be adopting the Jewish-based early learning curriculum currently used at the CDC.
“It’s probably not much different, but it will be a part-time version of what we use here,” Sluyter said.
In addition to the alignment of Jewish curriculums of both organizations, the collaboration will allow The J to provide part-time programming, which has been a cornerstone of B’nai Jehudah Preschool. This will provide flexibility to parents while delivering excellence in a contemporary preschool experience.
Sluyter added that the tuition structure for CDC will not change for the next school year and its member, non-member pricing rates will continue.
“B’nai Jehudah members will not get a discount for participating in our CDC, just like members of other synagogues do not,” Sluyter said.
Tuition for programs at the B’nai Jehudah Preschool for the 2017-18 session has not yet been determined. However, Sluyter believes there may be discounts for members of The J and members of B’nai Jehudah for the B’nai Jehudah Preschool. There is also some talk of a bigger discount if the family is a member of both organizations.
Enrollment dates are also yet to be determined. Sluyter said CDC enrollment typically “starts trickling in in April all the way up to early summer.”
The leaderships of both organizations are pleased with the new partnership and the benefits it brings to area children.
“Both organizations — our Child Development Center and B’nai Jehudah Preschool — have remarkably similar goals, which is to provide the very best in a safe, high-quality Jewish preschool experience and early learning opportunities,” Sluyter said. “This partnership will allow The J to move forward in new ways, including pursuing infant care, to provide options in two locations whereby Jewish culture and traditions can be passed on to future generations.”