Plans to start a nature-based pre-school at the Ansonia Nature Center have hit a roadblock.
The Nature Center needs written support from the Board of Aldermen in order to receive state money to help pay for the project.
But with other pressing concerns — such as the city budget and payments due on the new waste water treatment plant — the Board of Aldermen has been slow to talk about the project with Nature Center leaders.
“As far as the Board of Aldermen is concerned, I have not met anyone who is in favor of this,” said acting Mayor Stephen Blume. “We will meet again, but not right now. This is on the way back burner.”
The Nature Center has sent letters requesting a meeting with the Aldermen, and a representative spoke at a recent Board of Aldermen meeting on the topic. Nature Center representatives stressed they weren’t looking for money — just an “OK” on the project.
While the elected officials seemed receptive to talk, a meeting was not scheduled.
Now time is running out to get the state money allocated for the pre-school.
The state funds — about $12,000, according to Nature Center Director Donna Lindgren — will have to be applied toward another nature center program if the proposed pre-school doesn’t receive a nod from the city before the end of the fiscal year, June 30.
The Program Photo: Jodie Mozdzer The Redwing Pond House has solar panels on the roof, and geothermal heating, using underground water wells.
Lindgren said the program will house about 18 to 20 pre-school students, ages 3 to 5.
The pre-school would have science-based curriculum, Lindgren said and will use the grounds of the Nature Center and the Redwing Pond House as its classroom.
“The kids would be outside a good part of everyday,” Lindgren said. “The outdoors would be their classroom. We would not be so academically focused as other programs may be. We would hope that their learning will come from the natural world.”
Lindgren said the Ansonia Nature Center should be able to receive required state health department permits for the pre-school because the Redwing Pond House was constructed to use for a preschool and housed a city Board of Education preschool program until it moved last summer.
Costs
The pre-school program will charge tuition, which will cover the operating expenses of the program, Lindgren said.
But the Nature Center needs about $150,000 to launch the program.
It has received various grants and donations, but still needs more money to launch.
Photo: Jodie Mozdzer A paviliion outside the Redwing Pond House would be part of the classroom for pre-school students in a proposed nature-based program.
But the city owns the Redwing Pond House, and Blume said the Board of Aldermen is concerned about liability and future costs for the program.
“Push comes to shove, it’s our responsibility,” Blume said. “It’s our building, it’s our land.”
Next Steps
Lindgren said it’s too late to get the program up and running by September, but the Nature Center still hopes to have the pre-school program in place by Fall 2011.
Meanwhile, Lindgren hopes to attend the Board of Aldermen meeting this month to again urge members to come to the property and view the site before making any decision.
