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08/14/2018 12:00 AMWith an uncertain future due to uncertain longterm support from the local Catholic parish, the Saint Frances Cabrini Daycare and Preschool Leaning Center has received permission from the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) to relocate its operation should the need arise.
The application to move the daycare and preschool came about after the St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish announced its plans to close the school in April, though the parish has since offered to allow the school to use the building for another year.
Fredrick Kamp, Jr., spoke at the Aug. 6 PZC meeting to discuss possibly relocating the program from 90 Chapel Hill Road, a parish-owned building, to the convent itself at 94 Chapel Hill Road, directly next door, if that support changes. Kamp is a trustee for Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa (SSHJR), the convent that runs the school, and a parent of a student.
“[The parish has] another school in the south part of town and they wanted to put their resources in that school,” said Kamp. “They also made claims that the enrollment wasn’t enough to sustain” the sisters’ school.
Parents have rallied around what they consider a unique learning opportunity.
Dr. Tahia Thaddeuss Kamp, Kamp’s wife, said that “this is [the sisters’] ministry. This is what they take up their vows to do, to educate.”
The application to move the school to the residence is one that SSHJR is hoping isn’t needed.
“We have an application before [the PZC], yet I don’t want to exercise it,” Kamp said.
With the property at 90 Chapel Hill Road again available, the sisters did not want to rezone their residence to take on the work of the Saint Frances Cabrini facility. Should a new problem arise next year, however, they may again wish to enact this plan.
“If something comes along over the following months that they need something as a back-up, then we’re right back to square one again,” Kamp said.
The commission settled the issue by approving the special permit to relocate the preschool with the condition that the preschool never operates in both locations at once. This acceptance allows the school to file for this approved change any time over the next year.
The commission also provided two optional extensions of the approval for periods of six months.
With the matter settled, the sisters will open their daycare and preschool for the school year starting after Labor Day as Sacred Heart of Jesus Daycare-Preschool-Kindergarten.
“It’s the same sisters,” Thaddeuss Kamp said, “the same love they’re going to lavish on the children, the same academic rigor.”
Of that rigor, she said the program taught her four-year-old to read earlier than most children.
Thaddeuss Kamp said that the sisters will in fact be expanding their program in an effort to restore their preschool to its “former glory.” At one time, she said, the program hosted 90 students.
In addition to its existing preschool programs for three and four-year-olds, Sacred Heart of Jesus is adding a new kindergarten program and daycare for two-year-olds, a service Thaddeuss Kamp said is not commonly offered.
Those interested in enrolling their children in the program this September can contact Sister Jacinta Ibe at 203-889-2531.