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Lack of funding may close historic multilingual preschool
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An East Dallas institution that has helped children for nearly 40 years with strong United Methodist support is on the brink of closing, and its supporters, teachers and parents are asking for help.
Open Door Multilingual Preschool opened 38 years ago – the same year that Texas Instruments brought out its first pocket calculator, according to a letter from Dolena T. Westergard, president of the school's board of trustees.
Now at 4105 Junius Street next to Grace United Methodist Church, the school opened in the church basement in 1971 with two classrooms. Its pupils then reflected the changing population of East Dallas: Southeast Asian such as Cambodian and Vietnamese, Hispanic/Latino and African. Currently in addition to Anglo and Latino children, Open Door has pupils from China, Korea and Burundi, Africa.
"To see these children together on the playground you see the world as God intended: children of every color and race playing together in harmony," Ms. Westergard said in a letter requesting donations.
From the first its goal has been to help 3- and 4-year-olds develop language and academic skills so they could enter kindergarten on a par with their native English-speaking classmates. Open Door has been so successful that some pupils in its latest class of graduating 5-year-olds entered kindergarten ahead of their classmates, Ms. Westergard said. Learning English and academic skills at such a young age significantly lowers the risk factors for these children, so that they will be less likely to drop out of high school and turn to violence and drugs, she added.
This high level of achievement has been reflect in the recognition accorded to Open Door Preschool's instructors as well. According to a flyer from the school, teacher Virginia Hughes was named Outstanding Teacher by Educational First Steps in 2008 and teacher Sara Estrada was named DAEYC teacher of the year in 2009.
Now, however, Open Door is on the verge of closing because the economic downturn has drastically reduced its funding. As a not-for-profit community school, Open Door has felt the same economic pinch of non-profits across the county, but this fall support from various foundations has all but disappeared. Without immediate help, the school will have to close this month because it can't afford to pay the salaries of its teachers.
For a start, its longtime relationship with Grace UMC has prompted the congregation to schedule some fund-raisers to aid Open Door Preschool.
An email from the Rev. Diana Holbert, pastor of Grace UMC, said that the congregation will take a special offering on Sunday, Nov. 8 to help Open Door with its immediate crisis. Rev. Holbert said the church hopes to raise some $3,700 through the special one-time offering to help the school with its November expenses. Grace UMC has scheduled a silent auction Dec. 6 in hopes of raising another $7,300 to see the school through until January, when it expects to recent grant money.
In addition to Grace UMC, Open Door Preschool has been supported by St. Andrew UMC, Plano; Christ UMC, Plano; Lovers Lane UMC and its United Methodist Women's unit in Dallas; Northaven UMC in Dallas; University Park UMC and its United Methodist Women; and the North Texas Annual Conference.
"We recognize that it is a difficult time financially for everyone, but we hope you will continue to make a remarkable difference in the lives of these children, who are our future," Ms. Westergard stated in the donation letter.
For information on how to donate, call Open Door Preschool at (214) 824-2533.
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