After months of uncertainty, the Rose K. Goedert Center for Early Childhood Education has announced its partnership with St. Giles School as a way to help maintain its community together.
At the end of February, St. Giles announced its “delight” in a partnership with Dominican University’s Goedert Center as a way to “create a dynamic early childhood program” that will continue to strengthen the educational options for preschoolers in Oak Park and the surrounding community.
The Goedert Center had been trying to find a permanent — or even temporary home — in the Oak Park area since the announcement that the preschool would be closing its doors this summer was announced.
The center, which opened in 2005 at Dominican’s Priory Campus at Division Street and Harlem Avenue, had been providing early childhood education for children ages two to five and had offered flexible schedules to meet parental needs. Following the sale of the Priory Campus by Dominican University to Fenwick High School in 2022, the high school had extended a “rent-free” lease, allowing the center to remain at the location for up to five years.
However, the high school decided to exercise an early exit clause and will be taking over that space on the Priory Campus.
Since that announcement, representatives of the Goedert Center had been trying to find a new location to help its families not only find childcare but also keep the community they had grown to love.
The efforts included a partnership with West Cook YMCA and a pitch to the Forest Park School District 91 for use of its largely unused Grant-White Elementary School building.
The new partnership between Goedert and St. Giles aims to give families that community they had already built.
Meg Bigane, principal at St. Giles, said 30 Goedert families have already enrolled in St. Giles.
“We are thrilled to welcome the families and students of the Goedert Center for Early Childhood Education into the St. Giles School family,” Bigane said.
Michelle Bibbey, executive director at St. Giles, said the school evaluated if it had the capacity to expand its program to include the Goedert families and then approached the center to help.
Sarah Thomas, director at the Goedert Center, said after not having any luck through all the avenues it had explored, it was “wonderful” to hear from Bibbey.
Thomas said that as soon as St. Giles approached with the proposal to create a partnership with Goedert, Goedert families were made aware and were happy to hear the good news.
That partnership will include a “seamless transition” in hopes of providing “minimal disruption” for students, parents and staff.
The second part of that partnership is “expanded resources.”
The press release said that by banding together, St. Giles will “provide enhanced resources and facilities, fostering an even more enriching learning environment.” It also states that it will maintain its 10 students to 1 teacher ratio.
Finally, the partnership will also include “expertise integration,” with teachers from both schools combining their strengths to enhance the education program.
Thomas said St. Giles and Goedert shared many of the same beliefs, culture, and aligned in their educational mission, which would ease the transition for families.
“St. Giles is that place. Our programs are strikingly similar with educational philosophies that mirror one another,” Thomas said. “I know our students will feel the warmth and support of a loving community.”
While the merger is a “partnership,” both Bigane and Thomas said there are certain details that are still being worked through.
As of now, the new partnership will operate under the St. Giles name.
According to the press release, the integration of Goedert into St. Giles will be effective June 17, 2024.