Its funding suffering the effects of a weak economy, Our Children of the World Preschool might have to close.
By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published September 21, 2003
[Times photo: James Borchuck]
Danny Pham, left, and Lauren Bounthisavath, right, attend Our Children of the World Preschool where Ledy Saengphaxay volunteers. The preschool prepares children of Southeast Asian refugees and other immigrants for kindergarten, but its funding is drying up.
ST. PETERSBURG - Our Children of the World Preschool, founded 16 years ago to prepare children of Southeast Asian refugees for kindergarten, is experiencing financial difficulties.
The facility, which has broadened its scope to include children of the area's new refugees and immigrants, is feeling the effects of a weak economy, said Marylina Carbungco, director of refugee support services for United Methodist Cooperative Ministries, which operates the school.
Besides facing stiff competition for grants, the preschool is getting fewer financial donations from other sources, she said. It has tried to cut costs by stopping door-to-door transportation for the majority of students, but that and other cuts have not been enough to put the school on firm financial footing, Ms. Carbungco said.
In a solicitation letter this month, Donna Ratzlaff, executive director of United Methodist Cooperative Ministries, said the organization is "facing a $5,000 deficit trying to keep the school, the only one of its kind, running."
A broken pipe recently aggravated the situation.
"We came in Tuesday morning and everything was under water," preschool director Barbara Crow said last week.
The flood ruined furniture, caused the school to close for a week and left it with an insurance bill for the deductible of $750.
Such a sum might seem inconsequential to some, Ms. Crow said, but to the school, which depends on grants from the Juvenile Welfare Board and gifts from individuals, churches and other organizations, it's a huge amount.
For 14 years, the preschool, now at Hope Lutheran Church, 1801 62nd Ave. N, served Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian children in classrooms at Lakewood United Methodist Church in Pinellas Point. A year after its move, its name was changed from the Southeast Asian Preschool to Our Children of the World Preschool to reflect its broadening mission.
Money has been tight before, Ms. Carbungco said.
"In the past, we were able to tap into mini grants here and there," she said.
"After 9/11, we didn't have many individuals giving us monetary aid. They would say, "I would donate snacks' - which helps a lot - cleaning materials, paper towels. ...' "
The school, which has 33 pupils, plays an important role, Ms. Crow said.
"These children come in knowing little or no English. Most of the parents know little or no English. We help the children learn English and how to behave at school and we also help the parents learn what the schools expect of them," Ms. Crow said.
"We have gotten very positive feedback from the public schools. They settle right into kindergarten, which is our goal."
The preschool is proud of its graduates. Some, like Phonsavanh "Ledy" Saengphaxay, a senior in the International Baccalaureate program at St. Petersburg High School, have returned as volunteers. The preschool helped her, said Ledy, who is 17.
"When you're at home, you don't get much English from your parents, because your parents speak the native language," said the high school senior, who is Laotian and came to America as a refugee with her family when she was 2.
Its precarious financial situation has forced the preschool to ask parents, some of whom hold down two jobs, for help.
"We have sent out a note and asked them for support. Some have responded with as much as they can offer," Ms. Carbungco said.
Thursday, she had to tell a teacher there was no money to buy juice.
"We are going to be calling United Methodist churches for help," Ms. Carbungco said. "We are just blessed to have that option."
