Millersburg Preschool fundraiser set Saturday

Students at Millersburg Preschool listen to an intern from Central Methodist University read them a story on Tuesday. Millersburg Preschool is a parent co-op that depends on funding from a fundraiser each year. This year, that fundraiser is on Saturday at the Millersburg Lions Club.
Students at Millersburg Preschool listen to an intern from Central Methodist University read them a story on Tuesday. Millersburg Preschool is a parent co-op that depends on funding from a fundraiser each year. This year, that fundraiser is on Saturday at the Millersburg Lions Club.

The preschoolers who attend Millersburg Preschool have a unique opportunity. The kids learn at the hands of a parent co-op, which means there are always parents around while they're at the school.

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Alex Zagvozdin, Uriy Morozov

As such, the school keeps costs down for the parents by hosting a fundraiser each year. This year, they will hold a spaghetti dinner on Saturday.

"We're also going to have a raffle and silent auction," fundraising chairperson and vice president of Millersburg Preschool Brandee Narancich said.

Narancich said this is their big fundraiser of the year.

"This money keeps the preschool running," she said.

It's a preschool that started in the 1980s. Dr. Sherri Griffin is the teacher for the preschool. She is the early childhood professor at Central Methodist University in Fayette. Some of her students intern each semester.

On Tuesday, for example, between Miss Sherri, as the children call her, parents and the interns, there were at least eight adults helping with 14 students enrolled in the preschool.

"The parents really help here. They are involved in and lead activities," Narancich said. "We come and provide the snack and drinks, but what it really means is that we're actively involved in our children's education."

The parents' time at the school is scheduled at the beginning of the year.

Narancich said the money raised at Saturday's fundraiser will help offset the costs of activities and projects Miss Sherri does with the kids.

"This fundraiser is very important," she said. "Miss Sherri does a lot of activities with the kids. It helps with the costs of paint and paper. They do science projects and it helps with those costs."

It also helps keep the tuition lower.

Narancich said on average, tuition costs in the co-op are $5 to $10 less than a traditional preschool.

The fundraiser is Saturday at the Millersburg Lions Club. The spaghetti dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the silent auction will run throughout the event. Children's activities begin at 5 p.m. with a bounce house and other activities. Adults cost $8. Children ages 3 to 12 are $4 and children under 3 are free.