Council President Blog

Dear Fellow Members:

As we embark on a new path for our Congregation, Council wishes to thank our members for the many comments of support regarding the opening of a Christian preschool at Union Lutheran.  Council members worked diligently over several months to help bring this plan to fruition. This statement is an effort to continue open communication with our Congregation members, and to be sure that all members have factual information regarding the plan.

The decision to approve the preschool comes as one way to grow our family of faith through ministry to families with children.   Children and young families are a priority at ULC and define the future of our congregation.  A preschool is one way we will be able to expand our commitment to the children of our church and our community and to provide a program that is not only academic, but teaches our children that our world is a place created for us by a loving God.  It is evident from the programs already established, such as VBS and KFC, that there is an audience ready to participate in such a program.

The specifics of the preschool day at maximum capacity (48 children), uses one upstairs classroom for a 2 ½ hour morning session, a break for lunch and preparation, and a 2 ½ hour afternoon session with a different aged class (again utilizing the same room).  At this time, the plan does not include before or after-care or food service.  The plan includes a Pre-K aged class meeting four times a week in the morning, a 3 year old class meeting twice a week in the afternoon and a 4/5 year old class meeting three days a week in the afternoon.  Initially, the preschool Director will also act as head teacher, with an employed Teacher’s Assistant.  Should the preschool start with full enrollment, the position of head teacher separately from Director will be addressed.  Enrollment for the September 2012-2013 school year is targeted to commence in January 2012.

All salaries and expenses for the preschool will be paid through school tuition and preschool family fundraisers; with the exception of: $2,500 approved by Council to cover increased insurance (liability and workmen’s compensation) as well as an anticipated increase in utilities.  Council also earmarked up to $2,500 from the accrued interest of Staff and Program Development portion of the Living Legacy Endowment Fund, as needed to purchase curriculum, marketing tools or other supplies to start the preschool.  No other monies have been allotted to the preschool, and it will operate as its own budget line within our financial statement.

Whether or not you have preschool aged children, we are requesting your prayerful support in the program of the preschool as a method of growth within our faith family and community and as our service to a God who loves us.  Please know that all Council members are available at any time to talk with you or answer any questions you may have.  If you are unsure of the source of any information you receive regarding Council activity, it is requested that you communicate with and verify that the information you have is correct.

In addition to this statement, we have also decided to address some questions we have been asked to be sure truthful and factual information is being shared.

In Peace,

Melissa Metzger
Council President

Questions and Answers:

1. Did Council need to get Congregational approval for the preschool? Members of Council are elected by our members to represent the congregation.  As with other programming in the church (VBS, KFC, Sunday School Curriculum selection, etc.) the church constitutional does not required a congregational meeting for voting approval in such cases. The preschool is another forward-thinking program to join the others mentioned above.
2. Why did council announce the Preschool through a Temple Talk? Council announced the Preschool via Temple Talk to communicate the decision as soon as possible to all members of the Congregation.  It was Council’s desire that the news be shared as soon as possible to members.  It was also desired to take advantage of the large preschool aged audience that participated in VBS; it was only right to announce to the congregation first, before dispensing the information to VBS students.  Again, Council members are available to answer questions at any time.
3. How will the church cover the cost of a preschool in these tough times? Council approved only $2,500 annually to cover increase to utilities and insurance (quoted at maximum enrollment of 48 students).  An additional fund, up to $2,500, was earmarked to help start the preschool (marketing materials, curriculum, etc.) from the Living Legacy Fund.  This additional $2,500 may or may not be used in part or in total and is a one-time cost approval.  The preschool business plan is self-funding through tuition and/or preschool family fundraising only.  There are no other monies being spent by the congregation to run the preschool.  As defined in the plan, the preschool will have to accommodate itself whether we have 4 students or 48 students.
4. Was this decision made based on a personal agenda? Council wishes to accommodate as many growth opportunities for this congregation as possible.  It is our hope that the preschool is one idea of many we can embrace and implement that will bring us closer to our community and grow our family of faith.
5. Don’t all preschools require state certification? Wouldn’t that result in costly upgrades? Like most preschools in our area that meet in or are part of a church, we are not required and do not intend to be state certified.  We will be a private school, not a state licensed care facility.  Our building, in comparison to other churches with preschools in our area is well equipped to house a preschool class or classes.  We do not intend to make any upgrades to our facility, but have taken note of guidelines that suggest safety practices such as fire drills, escape routes, and sanitization procedures.  If state licensure is a requirement for potential parents seeking enrollment, then our school would not be an option for those people.  Demographics of our area and current preschool enrollment numbers suggest there are an ample number of families that seek a private preschool education without state certification.
6. Will Council approve other fundraising or growth ideas? As mentioned before, Council is always open to ideas that will generate involvement, growth and help with financing our congregation.  The preschool is one idea that has potential to invite giving and participating families into our worshipping family and ultimately grow our congregation as we gain visibility in the community.  It was one idea that was presented to Council with someone willing to execute it.  Council will continue to consider any other ideas presented that are feasible and have a feasible execution plan.  The preschool in no way negates any other effort the congregation makes now or in the future to grow and prosper – that is a call we all are given simply by being members here.
7. How will Council be able to evaluate the finances of the Preschool if it is church owned? Council voted to make the preschool a program of our church.  Like any other program, the preschool will have its own budget line(s) as part of the overall financial statement.  Finances will be included in the annual report to the congregation and included in the audit done every year.