Cooperative Model
Involving parents and caregivers in the day-to-day operations of our school enables us to provide high-quality classes at affordable prices.
Family Participation Requirements:
Attend the orientation and membership meetings.
Serve on an assigned committee, in an appointed position, or as a Board member.
Participate in fundraising events. Fundraising is the responsibility of the entire membership.
Participate in the classroom and as “floater,” as assigned, from 9:15am-12:50pm.
Provide snack for the whole class on co-oping days.
Drive or chaperone at least 1 field trip per year (not applicable to Bears).
Fulfill state-required education training hours.
Dulin Preschool has stayed true to its cooperative model for more than 50 years. Parent participation is mandatory in the classroom, in school operations, and in fundraising; there is no “buy-out” option for these roles. As a result, we tend to attract families who place a high value on involvement with their children’s education and a strong desire to be personally acquainted with their children’s teachers, friends, and their families.
Helping in the Classroom
One of the best parts of joining Dulin is the opportunity to work in the classroom. Regularly co-oping in the classroom allows you to participate in lessons, see how your child is progressing, and get to know his or her friends. Each teacher has their own style of leading the class and involving the participating parent.
A Day at Dulin as the "Helping Parent"
My daughter and I arrive at 9:15 a.m. I store my personal belongings in the teacher’s closet and grab my nametag. The teacher tells us we will be painting with marbles using primary colors today. We help her prepare the materials. My daughter gets to pick out a few special toys to bring down to the carpet circle. She chooses the doll house set, the bin of small animals and the large magnetic blocks. The teacher has also brought out the rice table today! The children love scooping, pouring and experiencing the textures. It is well worth the extra five minutes of vacuuming at the end of the day. The teacher has also set up a station with pattern blocks.
The excitement begins at 9:30 when the children begin entering the classroom with big smiles and happy chatter. I greet them as they come in and even get a few big hugs! I station myself at the art table ready to invite them to paint. Children place their belongings in their cubbies and then find their way to an activity of their choice. For about an hour, the children make their way through the various activities. Some choose to stay for a long time at the rice table. Some gravitate towards the art first and want to do more than one painting. I notice several children working hard together to build the magnetic blocks up high and wide. They are putting the animals inside the structure and creating an imaginary scenario. The teacher works her way through the classroom facilitating, listening, supporting and inspiring, as needed. We make sure activity areas aren’t too crowded and each child has an opportunity to participate in any activity they choose. We also keep an eye out for how the children are cooperating and communicating with each other.
Then my daughter gets to ring the clean-up bell and they tidy up together before we all put on our jackets and go outside. Out on the playground, several children ride around on tricycles. Others play their usual game of chase and my daughter, along with several friends, hangs from the school bus structure singing songs and playing “family.”
When the children come in from recess, they know it’s story time. While the teacher reads, I clean off the tables and set out the snack. My daughter chose applesauce and goldfish crackers. The children take turns washing hands. Once everyone is seated, we say a simple grace. The children are encouraged to serve themselves from a bowl of goldfish at the table. When they are done, they clean up their area and find a book.
About ten minutes before the end of the day, the teacher brings them all together for a game of alphabet bingo. At 12:30, when the parents arrive, the children are so busy with bingo that many don’t want to go home!
My daughter and I stay about 20 minutes after class has ended. I clean the tables and vacuum up lots of rice and goldfish pieces. She loves to help by cleaning off chalk boards! We are tired but it was a rewarding day. I love spending my morning with happy, energetic and amazing young people!
Running the School
In addition to working in the classroom, each family is asked to serve in one additional role to help support the school.
Fundraising
Our fundraising committee helps organize and implement school-wide fundraisers by soliciting donations and hosting events. The efforts of this committee go towards improvements to the school as well as funding the Polly Cox Scholarship Fund.
Hospitality
Our hospitality committee provides refreshments, decorating, and babysitting (at school) for school events. This committee requires regular daytime commitments during school events.
Maintenance
Our maintenance committee conducts classroom and facility clean-ups and minor repairs throughout the year. They meet monthly for school cleanings, as well as assisting in clean up after school events.
Board of Directors
The Board consists of 12 appointed positions. The Teacher-Director and Administrative Director attend Board meetings to provide input but they do not vote. The school holds board nominations for the following year each spring. Positions include:
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Operations Chair
Participation Chair
Admissions Chair
Fundraising Chair
Publicity Chair
Secretary
Parent Education Chair
Class-Parent Liaison
Church Liaison
Participation Details
Participating adults must fulfill certain obligations to comply with Department of Education (DOE) licensing standards. Participating adults are considered staff and are counted in our child-adult ratios, therefore, they are required to complete background checks, personal references, TB screening, and annual training.
Per DOE licensing standards, they must also be capable of communicating effectively both orally and in writing, and be capable of communicating with emergency personnel. (Participating adults must be able to reasonably understand and communicate in English, as that is the primary language of instruction and communication at Dulin Cooperative Preschool.)
Each month our Participation Chair inquires about days your family is unavailable and tries their best to accommodate those limitations when creating the participation schedule. The participation calendar is published thirty days in advance so that you may plan accordingly.
You can expect to co-op 1-2 times a month per child for the BEARS and OWLS and 2-3 times a month per child for the LIONS and FOXES. Occasionally, you may find yourself working more or fewer days in a given month, depending on scheduling issues in your child’s class (e.g., vacations, pregnancy/birth), but it all evens out by the end of the year. Our Participation Chair carefully tracks days worked and swaps.
Please note that state licensing does not permit siblings of any age to be in the classroom. You are responsible for finding childcare for siblings on the days you work in the classroom. Many Dulin families coordinate baby-swaps.
Co-oping adults will need some flexibility in their schedules so they can meet the co-op and committee responsibilities. Dulin Preschool cannot take the place of daycare. We do not have an extended-day option for those needing full-time care. That said, many working families are able to make room in their schedules for participating in a co-op. Some achieve this by designating a grandparent, nanny, or other family member as their family’s participating adult.