Gridley School Closes in Canton

The Gridley School in Canton has officially closed its doors.

The town-run preschool program was in trouble this year when all four of its teachers resigned.

The school also needed an increase in enrollment, with at least 10 students signed up per section. But, not enough signed up and got their deposit in before the June 28 deadline.

Many residents at the June 18 Board of Selectmen meeting expressed their belief in the program.

“I would just like to say that my daughter is finishing her first year and we hoped that it would be three years,” said resident Jennifer Sykes. “The experience has been unbelievable.”

The school was run by the town, and was also much cheaper than many other programs in the area.

“There’s nothing else that makes me have the same feeling of sending my child there for the same price and hours,” said resident Joanna Martin. “The next cheapest is at least $500 more.”

But the enrollment shortage forced the Gridley preschool program to close.

"Following multiple opportunities for public discussion and additional advertising, participant interest and registration deposits did not meet the numbers necessary to effectively run the Gridley Preschool Program," read a message posted on the town's Recreation Department website.