The preschool at historic Smith Playground abruptly closed this week, stranding families and raising questions
But now, Dukes and other Philadelphia families are reeling: Officials abruptly closed SUN Preschool on Monday, citing staffing and financial issues. Initial plans were to serve about 40 students ages 3, 4 and 5 in two classrooms in a full-day, full-year, progressive program that made space for all, including families in the neighborhoods surrounding Smith. Officials hoped SUN might eventually be a city pre-kindergarten site and open in 2022, but that was pushed back by the pandemic.
Their son was happy with the small, close-knit school, and so were Milton and her husband. But in late December, with a day’s notice from the board, the director resigned — “the first red flag,” Milton said. “We knew they were looking for a director; we knew the finances were iffy” with such a small school, financed both by tuition and subsidies.
On Sunday, parents learned the school would be closed Monday. Eventually, the news came in a Monday night meeting: SUN was closing.“This decision was not one that we came to easily, and we share it today with heavy hearts, knowing the significant impact that this decision will likely have on all of you, and knowing how many people care about our school and will be saddened to see it close,” Mannella read from an email that soon went out to families.