A history of the creation and early years of the Federated Church Preschool and Childcare Center

 

            A seed was planted soon after my family’s arrival here in 1984 for new jobs, with a 3-year-old and an infant, as I searched for a preschool in Placerville, with disappointing results.  An elementary teacher and working mother, I knew exactly the Christ-like values and high standard of care I was looking for.  Serendipitously, our little family found a church home at Federated Church, which was actively growing in its ministry with children and families.  From August, 1987 through April, 1991, Phases I and II of a remodel and interior design update of the building which had been built many years before alongside the sanctuary were completed.  Eventually, that seed grew and blossomed when in the fall of 1993 Federated Church Preschool and Childcare Center opened its doors for the first time in that transformed building.

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            Prior to the remodel and thoughts of a preschool, there was simply a door on the side of the sanctuary, and it led outside to a courtyard beyond which was a separate building used for meetings and classes.  On sunny days it was fine for children to open the door and head down steep concrete stairs to the Sunday School, a number of stark, chilled rooms with concrete walls and tiled floors.  However, on blustery wintery days it was worrisome to open that door, have it snatched out of hands by the wind, everyone rained on, and slippery stairs negotiated.  Outside, children played on an old tire and a crudely built wooden triangle climbing structure on dirt.  On Sundays, Christ’s message was lovingly shared by the saints who watch over us now, and children grew happily in faith.

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            As time passed, the realization that Federated’s Children and Families Ministry was expanding, and the concept of  ministry that included not only our own but a wider community began to be considered.  The idea of establishing a preschool in what appeared to be the ideal conditions of the wonderfully renovated facility began to be discussed, positively encouraged by pastors, Jim Upshaw and Sandy Peirce.  The Christian Education Committee in February, 1991 formed the “Weekday Childcare Task Force” whose goal was to examine the feasibility of establishing a preschool/daycare facility.  The members, Donna Fleischer, Barbara Bell, Denise O’Donnell, and Stephany Rewick worked tirelessly for the next seven months.  During that time, research was compiled, plans were created using the accreditation guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), requirements by the state and local ­­licensing agencies were explored, and discussions with other local preschools and daycare centers as well as other stakeholders in the community were held.

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            By September the task force felt it could confidently present the concept to the church council and it did just that at a special meeting of the council in October, 1991.  There was much discussion for and against the idea and the council voted cautiously to agree in principle, requiring that the following tasks be addressed: 1) Establish the need for and type of facility and program that would be offered;  2)  Determine what the purpose would be for the church;  3)  Propose whether and how Federated Church might support and or interface with the program; and 4) Present and recommend a sustainable program model to the Church Council.  However, at that same meeting the Council voted to accept the resignation of Cathy Chapman from the position of Christian Education Director.  At the council’s request, a decision about the possibility of establishing a preschool was tabled until a new person could be hired for the Christian Education position.

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            The work of the task force continued until the Winter of 1993.  There were serious and discouraging concerns voiced by some members of the Council and the congregation that the remodeled facilities would be negatively impacted, that caring for children encouraged parental neglect, that the finances would make it impossible, and that the need for childcare in the community was untrue.  The Task Force came to realize that it was an opportunity to educate the congregation about quality early childhood care, and became even more determined to create this example of how God’s compassion for all children could become part of the Church’s expression of Discipleship.  In response to the Council’s requests, a needs and feasibility survey was completed from the surrounding population with information from Placerville School District, from the employees of Marshall Hospital, and from members of the church.  Several new members volunteered to join the task force including Nancy McColl, whose practical experience and expertise was invaluable in the area of Early Childhood Care and Education, and former teachers and administrators Larry Roscoe and John Palmer also joined in the effort.  Task force members continued to research, read, make contacts, consider financial strategies, and look for informative conferences to attend.  Stephany Rewick completed a degree in Early Childhood Education at the local Community College, and by August of 1992, was named Christian Education Director, a job which included supervision of the Preschool’s development.  Many discussions of details to be included in writing the policies and procedures were held.  In September of that year, a tragedy in the church’s family became the loving motivation for creating a beautiful playground outside the facility, donated by Paul Philips in memory of his wife and children, whose lives had been lost in a car accident. 

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            Continuing to overcome numerous obstacles and to find consensus on issues of identity were discussed, not the least of which was a decision of the most accurate and representative name:  Federated Church Preschool and Childcare Center.  Another important decision concerned how to be a program which practiced Christian ideals without excluding other faiths, and without becoming a Sunday School.  Great care was taken to describe an environment where ecumenism and inclusivity were respected, families of any faith would be welcomed, and for the children, God’s lessons of respect and love would be learned in experiential opportunities.  The Task Force members met regularly to update each other and the Christian Education Committee about how the plan for the preschool was developing, and the work became coordinated and completed under Stephany’s guidance.    A Study Session for the Church Council was held in February, and at the March, 1993 regular meeting of the Church Council, nearly 2 ½ years after the concept had first been shared, Elder Paul Converse set in place a motion that the the Proposal to Establish Federated Church Preschool and Childcare Center be approved as a program of Federated Church, and the council’s vote unanimously agreed that it would be so. 

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            After a huge sigh of relief, the work of the Task Force was then placed in the hands of the Weekday Childcare Committee which would soon become the Preschool Board, under the umbrella of the church’s Christian Education Ministry.  There would be almost no impact to the church financially as finances for startup would come from 21 no interest loans of $500 each, to be repaid starting 1 year after the school was opened.  The preschool would benefit from being able to be insured within the church’s plan.  In May, Nancy McColl was hired as the first Director.  The playground was completed in June. With prayer and celebration, The Preschool opened in the fall of 1993, and in January of 1994, the first official report to the Church Council by the Preschool Director was noted in its minutes, and subsequent Council Summaries continue to note reports of the successes and growth of The Preschool.  By May, 1994, the capacity was full.  A logo was created by one of the church’s youth, Jason Roth, and the first fundraiser selling Tshirts featuring the logo was held.  Church Council minutes note that the loans were paid off in full and before schedule.  At about this time The Preschool also joined with a national effort to celebrate Children’s Sabbath in conjunction with the Ecumenical Childcare Network using the offering given that day to replenish its scholarship fund for the children of families needing assistance with tuition. 

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            Cheryle Price followed Nancy McColl as Preschool Director in 1998 and under her guidance, official Recognition with the Ecumenical Childcare Network was achieved.  Also during the years shortly after, another prestigious award, Accreditation with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) was achieved in 2000, ours being the first Preschool in El Dorado County to accomplish this.  A grant from First 5 of El Dorado County was awarded for $25,000 enabling the creation of the Infant Room in 2002.  Penny Bovenkerk, Financial Assistant, applied for and received an additional $25,000 grant for use by the Scholarship Fund.

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            Retiring in 2004, I confidently believed that Federated Church Preschool and Childcare Center was flourishing under Cheryle’s leadership, gaining strength and independence from the original oversight by the Christian Education Committee.  Since that time The Preschool has continued to offer quality early childhood education and care to children in our community and their families.

 

Stephany Rewick

Director of Christian Education, 1992-2004

 

Please Note:  It is with a deep sense of gratitude and honor that I recall and record this history of the beginning years of Federated Church Preschool and Childcare Center.  It is one of the great joys of my professional life to have been part of the effort to create this place where Love is demonstrated, and so many lives of children and their families have been touched.  In March, 2018, the Preschool will celebrate 25 years since the March 1993 decision was made by the Church Council to allow its establishment.

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