thedrifter
05-01-09, 06:28 AM
Lead problem forces preschool to close
BY JONAS BEALS
Cake and pizza always make preschoolers happy, but a recent ceremony at Rosalind Rhymer Preschool left some parents and teachers feeling blue, despite the refreshments.
The school that has served the children of Quantico's Marines for 74 years closed its doors Wednesday.
"It's sad," board president Tracy Turgeron said. "It's been around since 1935. It's a phenomenal program. We had waiting lists and a great reputation across the country."
After decades of educating children who came from--and went to--the four corners of the globe, Rosalind Rhymer Preschool was ultimately laid low by lead.
Since 1972, the school has occupied two metal Quonset huts--one green, one red--next to Butler Stadium on the base. In 2008, lead levels in the soil surrounding the buildings were found to be too high. A temporary fix of plastic sheeting and mulch bought the school an additional year, but full remediation was too costly for the privately funded institution. Now without a home, the school was forced to close.
Jodi Salley has three children. Her oldest, Alexandra, was in the last "red hut" class of 4-year-olds.
"The people here are wonderful," Salley said. "It's nice to have other military families in the same situation. Everyone understood each other."
Alexandra's younger sister was asleep in Salley's arms during the closing ceremony.
"We were hoping she was going to be a 'green hut,'" Salley said, referring to her sleeping daughter and the building reserved for 3-year-olds. "We'll have to go to a local preschool now. We'll figure it out."
The event brought out former teachers, directors and even some former students. Susan Rhymer, daughter of Rosalind, made the trip from her home in Raleigh to mark the occasion. She grew up helping her mother teach in the '60s.
"What I mostly remember was what a fun, warm and friendly place it was," she said to the crowd. "I appreciate the way this school has operated. I'm proud of that. Thank you all."
The school was named for director Rosalind Rhymer after she died in 1971. Her actions were largely responsible for moving the school back onto the base in 1972 after it was forced off during the Vietnam War.
When the Navy cranked out tens of thousands of Quonset huts during World War II, no one would have imagined that more than 60 years later, a gaggle of kids would be learning their ABCs inside two of the iconic arched metal buildings.
School supporters tried to find a way to solve the lead issue, but it was simply too expensive. All the children were screened and found to be unaffected, and parents felt comfortable sending their children there for the final year. The Marine Corps will dismantle the buildings.
Marine Corps Community Services plans to add new preschool classrooms in 2011, but they won't have the same independent parent-run board structure, nor will they have the unique physical structure.
"I still miss it," said Lois Pruden, who taught at the school from 1972 to 1994 and came back for the final day. "It's such an institution. So many children have come through here."
Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com
Ellie
BY JONAS BEALS
Cake and pizza always make preschoolers happy, but a recent ceremony at Rosalind Rhymer Preschool left some parents and teachers feeling blue, despite the refreshments.
The school that has served the children of Quantico's Marines for 74 years closed its doors Wednesday.
"It's sad," board president Tracy Turgeron said. "It's been around since 1935. It's a phenomenal program. We had waiting lists and a great reputation across the country."
After decades of educating children who came from--and went to--the four corners of the globe, Rosalind Rhymer Preschool was ultimately laid low by lead.
Since 1972, the school has occupied two metal Quonset huts--one green, one red--next to Butler Stadium on the base. In 2008, lead levels in the soil surrounding the buildings were found to be too high. A temporary fix of plastic sheeting and mulch bought the school an additional year, but full remediation was too costly for the privately funded institution. Now without a home, the school was forced to close.
Jodi Salley has three children. Her oldest, Alexandra, was in the last "red hut" class of 4-year-olds.
"The people here are wonderful," Salley said. "It's nice to have other military families in the same situation. Everyone understood each other."
Alexandra's younger sister was asleep in Salley's arms during the closing ceremony.
"We were hoping she was going to be a 'green hut,'" Salley said, referring to her sleeping daughter and the building reserved for 3-year-olds. "We'll have to go to a local preschool now. We'll figure it out."
The event brought out former teachers, directors and even some former students. Susan Rhymer, daughter of Rosalind, made the trip from her home in Raleigh to mark the occasion. She grew up helping her mother teach in the '60s.
"What I mostly remember was what a fun, warm and friendly place it was," she said to the crowd. "I appreciate the way this school has operated. I'm proud of that. Thank you all."
The school was named for director Rosalind Rhymer after she died in 1971. Her actions were largely responsible for moving the school back onto the base in 1972 after it was forced off during the Vietnam War.
When the Navy cranked out tens of thousands of Quonset huts during World War II, no one would have imagined that more than 60 years later, a gaggle of kids would be learning their ABCs inside two of the iconic arched metal buildings.
School supporters tried to find a way to solve the lead issue, but it was simply too expensive. All the children were screened and found to be unaffected, and parents felt comfortable sending their children there for the final year. The Marine Corps will dismantle the buildings.
Marine Corps Community Services plans to add new preschool classrooms in 2011, but they won't have the same independent parent-run board structure, nor will they have the unique physical structure.
"I still miss it," said Lois Pruden, who taught at the school from 1972 to 1994 and came back for the final day. "It's such an institution. So many children have come through here."
Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com
Ellie