Davis preschool closing after 42 years
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A 42-year-old preschool in northeast Davis is closing its doors this summer, its director confirms.
The last day for Montessori Country Day, at 1811 Renoir Ave., will be Friday, Aug. 22. (The first day of school for Davis Joint Unified is the following Monday, Aug. 25.) The school has been open since 1983.
Debbie Robertson, director of Montessori County Day I and II (in Mace Ranch) has been with the school since 1989. My boys, now 28 and 25, went there for preschool and after-school kindergarten from Birch Lane Elementary.
John Hillis owns Campus Child Care, which operates the preschool and three others in town. It has two centers at UC Davis: La Rue Park and Russell Park child development centers, and Montessori Country Day II at 2802 Spafford St.
The reason for the closure? New transitional and all-day kindergarten programs at Davis Joint Unified School District – and many statewide. Four- and 5-year-olds who would go to Montessori Country Day will be able to go to public school – for free.
The DJUSD website says, “we are excited to share that, for the first time, we are offering FULL DAY kindergarten. This exciting opportunity allows our District to better meet the needs of our kinder students and families.”
The additional classes will help the Davis district, which is seeing declining enrollment that many blame on housing prices. Robertson said 20 or even 10 years ago, there were a lot more children in town.