Recently, the Early Education Cooperative (EEC) Preschool, the school that is on our campus, let us know that they would not be renewing their lease with UUCP. The preschool was founded by UUCP 62 years ago and was owned and operated by UUCP until 2015. Since then, they have functioned as renters while they’ve figured out how they want to be as their own non-profit organization. This relationship has had many benefits through the years as many of our children have benefitted from a preschool that shares our UU values. There have also been many challenges as we’ve navigated space together, changed management (on both their side and ours) and changed in philosophies and values. EEC is moving to a different church in the valley where they hope to grow into more space. We wish them well.
In the meantime, the other school on our property, Desert Valley Learning Center (DVLC) has been growing and wishing to expand as well. We have a tentative agreement with them to give them more space, which will almost entirely make up the lost income that we are losing from EEC, and we have plans for how we can use all the rooms “down the hall” to serve the modern needs of UUCP.
Overall, while transitions are challenging, we’re very excited about the opportunities that this change brings. We can’t wait to tell you about them.
We have some other exciting news–our Ministerial Intern Brigitta Vieyra has asked the Board of Directors to have the congregation vote on ordaining her as a Unitarian Universalist Minister, pending her successful approval from the UU’s Ministerial Fellowship Committee in December.
We will be having a Congregational Meeting immediately following the service on Sunday (both online and in-person) to discuss both of these things and to vote on Brigitta’s ordination. We hope that you will join us to hear about all this exciting news.
Change continues to be a constant element of our ministry together. I am so grateful for all the wonderful people (especially Bunny Hodas, who has led the efforts with the schools) who are navigating this together.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!