Hillel prepares for expanded preschool

Marshall Weiss

The Dayton Jewish Observer

On July 12, Hillel Academy learned that it had received its certificate of occupancy from Montgomery County to operate a preschool for children ages 30 months and over, clearing a major hurdle as it prepares to expand to a full-time, five-day-a-week preschool on Aug. 22.

The next step, according to David Fuchsman, president of the Miami Valley’s Jewish day school, is to receive a license to operate a preschool for these age levels from the state.

“We’ve been told by the state that typically the certificate of occupancy is the stumbling block,” he said on July 12. “We expect our certification packet will go to the state later this week.”

Until June, Hillel operated an afternoon enrichment program three days a week for 4-year-olds.

Fuchsman said the school plans to have two full-day preschool classes: one for children 30 months to age 3, the other for 4-year-olds.

Parents will also have the option of sending their children a few days a week instead of the full five.

Thomas Tudor, Hillel’s new headmaster, will directly oversee the preschool operation.

“He has experience supervising preschools,” Fuchsman said.

Hillel decided to pursue expansion of its preschool following the Jewish Federation’s decision in May not to relocate its north Dayton Jewish Community Center preschool to Hillel Academy based on insufficient enrollment.

Instead, the DJCC closed its north preschool at the end of May, when all Federation agencies and departments left the Jesse Philips Building in Trotwood; the building is now owned and operated by United Theological Seminary.

The DJCC currently operates a full-day preschool at the Boonshoft CJCE in Centerville for children ages 18 months to 4 years old.

Fuchsman said that Hillel is not planning to provide preschool classes to children younger than 30 months in the near future.

“When we go to a lower age, it creates such greater needs,” he said. ” There are a lot more building codes for that age. For example, you need a special changing room for children. Realistically, we can’t believe this will happen, but it is always an option.”

He said Hillel board member Dr. Adam Waldman surveyed parents in Dayton’s north suburbs and Waldman believes there will be 10-15 children in each of the two planned classes.

“When the Center indicated it would not go forward, he (Adam) volunteered to lead the exploration committee,” Fuchsman said.

Similar to the DJCC’s program, Hillel’s preschool will now be open to non-Jews.

“Kindergarten will remain as is,” Fuchsman added.

He said three main revenue sources will cover Hillel’s additional costs to expand the preschool: tuition, special allocations from the Federation, “and Hillel will cover the remaining costs.”

At its board meeting on July 13, the Federation approved two allocations for the Hillel preschool: $20,000 for one-time capital expenses and up to $21,000 toward any first-year deficit.

In addition, the Federation has already contributed $18,000 to the Hillel campus this year for a playground area for preschoolers.

“The Federation hopes Hillel’s preschool expansion will be successful,” said Federation President Deborah Feldman. “We will continue working in every way possible to ensure this venture will thrive.”

“In a perfect world the preschool would be self sufficient,” Fuchsman said. “It may not be break even in the year ahead.”

When asked how many preschoolers Hillel would need to keep the program going, Fuchsman said, “it’s not something we’ve discussed. We could have those who would pay full tuition and those on reduced or no tuition. The better question is: what dollar amount. It’s a year-to-year decision. We’ll look at it next year.”

He emphasized that first and foremost, Hillel is providing a service to the community.

And he hopes Hillel will benefit from the venture.

“If we can get families into the building, we are confident we will be able to keep them.”

© 2005 The Dayton Jewish Observer