The early years of a child’s life are key to healthy development and future productivity. High-quality early childhood education (ECE) programs have positive impacts on young children’s learning and long-term life outcomes and can help make a difference in our state’s future economic competitiveness. They are a valuable investment. That’s the message CFT ECE members delivered to state legislators on January 26, 2010.

On December 21, 2009 over one hundred parents, kids and teachers rallied to protest the Sunnyvale Congregational Community Church’s decision to sell Community Preschool (CP) to buyers who had planned to gut the program in the middle of the school year.

CP workers voted unanimously to form their union in November of 2008. Since then the church has invested thousands of dollars in fighting them. This decision to sell to a buyer who had no concern for workers or the families that depended on Community Preschool for quality care and education was unacceptable. After two meetings, where the prospective buyers told parents that they would change CP from a preschool dedicated to 2-5 year olds to a facility for kids from 8 weeks old to fifth grade in early January, many parents and teachers were left in tears.

The union called all parents and community supporters to action for a protest in front of the church.  Sunnyvale Mayor, Tony Spitaleri, spoke in support of teachers and parents, and even the Grinch made a special appearance. The rally was the culminating effort of a coalition built between the union and parents dedicated to preserving CP. The rally made the 5, 6 and 7 o’clock news programs on two major network television stations,
as well as a story in the San Jose Mercury newspaper.

Photo: The Grinch listens to the Mayor of Sunnyvale speak in support of staff and families
of Community Preschool at the 12/21 CP Parent Rally.