Rockbridge County’s preschool program, in the process of being transitioned to the Rockbridge Area YMCA, is seeking students for the upcoming academic year.
Parents who want to register their children should contact either Mercy Smith at (540) 581-2808 [email protected], or Gwen Whitmore at (540) 461-8720 or [email protected].
After months of planning and coordination, Rockbridge County and the Rockbridge Area YMCA have completed an agreement which is transferring operations of the county’s long-standing preschool program to the YMCA. The program began in the 1980s and has operated almost continuously ever since, under several names, including preschool on a bus, when the program was mobile, with a classroom in a converted school bus, serving multiple areas of the county.
While no longer a mobile classroom, the program currently operates in four locations including Goshen, Glasgow, Effinger and Fairfield, serving a total of approximately 50 students.
During budget discussions last spring, the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors directed staff to seek alternatives to direct county oversight of the program. Given that the Rockbridge YMCA operates a preschool just outside of Lexington, discussions led to the potential for the Y to absorb the county program and continue to offer services in the existing four locations.
Ultimately, the Board and the Y agreed that the Y would take over management of the preschool starting this July, with the county continuing to provide funding for the program for a period of two years. The agreement specifies that the Y will strive to maintain existing staff and current preschool locations and capacities.
“The preschool program has been a staple in Rockbridge for many years,” said County Administrator Spencer Suter. Edwina Shafer (known to her students as Miss Dwinnie) led the program until her retirement last year, when lead teacher Mercy Smith stepped into the role as director. “Mercy has done an amazing job of filling Miss Dwinnie’s shoes and has been able to expand the number of children served,” said Suter.
Speaking to the transition to the Y, Board of Supervisors Chair David Mc-Daniel remarked, “With changing times and regulations, the Board wanted to move the program to an entity that is set up to provide youth services. Having recently and successfully absorbed the city of Lexington’s youth program, the Y was a natural choice. We are pleased with how this is working out.”
Rockbridge Area YMCA Director Chad Whitmer shared his excitement for the transition. “A pillar of the Y’s mission is to promote youth development and there is no better way to live out that mission than by supporting our local families. Our Early Learning Center nurtures children’s growth every day and to serve even more children is a privilege we welcome.”
Rockbridge Area YMCA Childcare Director Gwen Whitmore expressed her enthusiasm about the merger. “Mercy and her team are providing a greatly needed service in preparing our children for kindergarten, both academically and socially. We look forward to continuing this effort and perhaps expanding opportunities for children and families.”
While the agreement has already been approved, the official transition of the program is set for July 1. In the meantime, preschool staff and the Y plan to coordinate meetings with current and prospective families to complete necessary paperwork to enroll children for the upcoming academic year. “Our plan is simple, we hope to make this process easy and seamless,” said Whitmer.
