Future of Gridley School Preschool Program in Canton Up in the Air

The Gridley School in Canton is in trouble, and unless more students sign up by June 28, it could be gone for good.

The Gridley School, run by the Canton Recreation Department, has lost four teachers this year and will need more money to continue, according to recreation director Janet Maguire.

“There’s been little oversight from the recreation director and or my office, but the town has been fortunate to have a dedicated and qualified staff that provides a great service,” said town administrator William Friel. “I’m still not sure why this education program has been under the recreation department. After the recent notification that [four teachers] were leaving their employment it raised the issue of whether or not the program should or should not continue. We wanted to share that information as soon as we knew it.”

Selectmen debated the idea of the school. The one inescapable conclusion they reached is the program needs more students and more tuition to keep going. As of June 20, only 12 students had been signed up.

“It’s a decision bound to economics,” said selectman John Connolly. “Right now we have 12 students.”

Selectmen decided to give the program until June 28 to get more students to justify its cost. Maguire agreed with selectmen to raise tuition by $100.

Several Canton residents voiced their concerns about the program.

“It’s been amazing, it has the best hours and it’s a school feeling not a daycare,” said Joanna Martin. “It’s still the cheapest, and it’s sad that teachers are leaving but I feel like it’s an opportunity to find more teachers that will have the same spirit.”

Martin said the other local options are considerably higher in price.

“It’s at least $500 more at the next cheapest place,” she said. “There’s no option of short hours to help lower the price. It makes it a lot more money.”