Helping Hands Preschool hosted an open house on Wednesday to introduce community members to its new location in the former Heritage Elementary School, located at 833 Guilford Blvd. The preschool made the move at the start of the school year as part of the Medina School District’s adjustments following the closure of Garfield and Heritage Elementary Schools.
Principal Heather Mix explained that the open house allowed visitors to learn more about the preschool and see the results of recent renovations. In February 2023, the Medina Board of Education unanimously approved a plan to redistrict the schools, which included closing both Heritage and Garfield Elementary. This decision aimed to better distribute students among the remaining elementary schools.
With the closure of Heritage Elementary, the district repurposed the building for Helping Hands Preschool. This transition increased the number of classrooms available for students and staff. Mix noted that the building originally had an open-concept layout, with classroom dividers made from cabinets and shelving.
Ryan O’Cull, the Medina Director of Business Affairs, stated that renovations funded by sales tax dollars were completed over the summer. The project included installing walls to create 12 classrooms and adding attached bathrooms. “They did all of the work over the summer,” Mix said. “It was different every time I came in here.”
Currently, Helping Hands Preschool is utilizing nine of the newly created classrooms, leaving three available for future expansion. The preschool serves children ages 3 to 5 within the district, preparing them for kindergarten. It aims to integrate children with developmental delays or disabilities alongside peers who demonstrate appropriate language, behavior, and social skills.
Mix emphasized that students can enroll at any time during the school year. Medina Assistant Superintendent Kris Quallich noted that public school districts must provide preschool special education for children ages 3 to 5. By state law, students must be assessed and provided with necessary services by their third birthday, allowing for new enrollments throughout the year. This requirement can make it challenging to predict how many classrooms will be needed for preschoolers each school year.
Previously, Helping Hands Preschool operated at Northrop Elementary School, where they had six classrooms and had to use an additional room in the fifth-grade hallway due to space constraints. Now, with an entire building dedicated to preschool, Mix expressed satisfaction with the new arrangement. “It’s been wonderful to have the space dedicated just to preschool,” she said. “We have the room, obviously, to grow.”
The dedicated space allows staff to organize different activities throughout the building. The larger areas also benefit occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech pathologists, who can conduct sessions and larger activities more effectively.
During the open house, Mix appreciated the opportunity to engage with the community. “Everybody has been really great,” she said. “They’ve asked some really good questions about the preschool, our classrooms, and how many students we service, so that’s been wonderful.”
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