La Conner needs its Little Braves preschool

Dear Editor:

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recently announced closure of Little Braves preschool due to lack of funding. As a member of our community and a parent who understands the importance of early childhood education, I believe that eliminating programs for young children only harms our community and creates hardship for families.

The Little Braves Preschool program, which operates in the elementary school through funding from Head Start, is the only publicly funded early education program in La Conner. The nurturing environment, dedicated teachers, and enriching curriculum have provided a solid foundation for young learners, fostering their social, emotional, and cognitive development. The 3-5 age range it serves has no other option either for childcare or preschool without going to either Anacortes or Mount Vernon. The wonderful Cooperative Preschool serves these ages, but requires tuition and a tremendous amount of parent participation that is not feasible for many working families.

The decision to close the Little Braves preschool program not only affects the children who are currently enrolled but also has long-term consequences for our community. Without access to early childhood education, families will struggle to find alternatives and young families will refrain from joining the community due to a lack of supportive community infrastructure.

Furthermore, the closure of Little Braves preschool will contribute to diminishing enrollment in our local school district. It is my understanding that the school board did not have the resources to fund the program due to decreasing enrolment numbers. Recent budget cuts and staffing issues made it impossible for Head Start to continue funding the program. If we as a community care about making space for our youngest members, we must find a counterbalance to this trend.

It is crucial for our community to recognize the value of investing in our youngest members. Early childhood education has a profound impact on children’s lives, shaping their future academic success, social skills, and overall wellbeing. We need to be adding and expanding these programs, not sacrificing them.

I urge our community leaders and policymakers to prioritize funding and support for early childhood education programs like the Little Braves preschool. As members of this community, we must ask ourselves: Do we value our youngest members? Do we want a town where multiple generations contribute to the community?

Thank you for bringing attention to this important issue and for considering the impact of early childhood education on our community’s vitality and success.

Whitney Keith is a La Conner-based marriage and family therapist and mother of two preschool-aged children.

Skagit/Islands Head Start, a program of Skagit Valley College, directs the Little Braves Preschool program. The La Conner School District had no role in this decision ( – ed.).