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Assistant Managing Editor EAST LONGMEADOW Montessori Children's Corner will be under new ownership this fall. Goodwill Industries, who formally ran the school, has decided to turn the program over to the YMCA of Greater Springfield after operating it for 16 years. "We some time ago began to look at our strategical line-ups with our programs and [Montessori] wasn't a good fit for us," explained Goodwill Industries Executive Director of Springfield/Hartford Area Stephen Mundahl. "We thought that in the long term someone could do better than we could." Mundahl said that though children's education is not the Goodwill's core business, the program was run so well due to its outstanding staff. "We just kind of put some feelers out and the YMCA was very interested right from the beginning and we had several conversations with them," Mundahl said. "It certainly fits their strategic alignment." Goodwill also oversaw a Montessori school in Indian Orchard that Kathy Treglia, vice president of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, said was also sold. The YMCA, however, looked forward to purchasing the East Longmeadow location. While this is the YMCA's first approach with a Montessori school, it has been running various preschool and children's educational programs for years. It operates 17 licensed centers in six communities for 1,000 children each day. "East Longmeadow is a new community for us. We have programs in Wilbraham, Monson, Palmer, Springfield and Chicopee," Treglia said. "I think it's a whole new community that we're hoping to expose them to all of the great things the Y does." On July 9 the YMCA hosted a parent meeting at its 215 Somers Rd. address where it is located inside United Methodist Church. The small turnout was greeted with a wealth of information from Treglia and YMCA President James Morton. "We're so happy to have the Montessori to add to the other services and programs we offer," Morton said, adding that most of what the YMCA does is providing educational services that promote health, wellness and growth in mind, body and spirit. Morton is a member of Springfield's Finance Control Board and has a background in law and education. He relinquished his position as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Career Development Institute in order to come on board as the president of the YMCA. A passionate education advocate, he said the Y has three basic goals: to inspire children to have a love of education, to instill a commitment to community service and to teach their four core values: honesty, respect, caring and responsibility. "We're going to continue to support this as Montessori school," Morton said. The YMCA will keep all of the existing Montessori teachers. The YMCA is just hoping to improve the school's enrollment which is at half of its 60 student capacity and get more funding behind the school. All families enrolled in YMCA childcare programs are eligible for a 50 percent discount on a YMCA membership, and the school will have access to the YMCA's fleet of school buses and vans to transport children to special events and field trips. There will also be no changes in Montessori Children's Corner tuition. "I'm thrilled. I think this is a great alliance," said one mother after she had her list of questions answered. Morton said Montessori is a great addition to what the YMCA does. "It just makes what we're doing so much more richer, because we believe that that is the way to save our society and our community." |
