Parent Cooperative Model

The Lincoln Cooperative Preschool (LCP)’s cooperative nature is a powerful tool in both the execution of the school’s philosophy and operation. By participating in the various aspects of LCP, the parent community ensures the school’s financial well-being and spirit.

MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES:
All families with a child enrolled in the preschool are responsible for the following:

• Signing up for and carrying out the responsibility of a job or board position
• Participating in work parties
• Bringing snacks to the classroom on designated days (2-6 times during the academic year per family)
• Raising a minimum of $200 annually in fundraisers organized by the fundraising committee

Details about each responsibility are listed below.

Members will sign up for and carry out the responsibilities of a particular job or board position.
Jobs and board positions vary greatly, so you can choose one that best fits your strengths.  

• Elected Board Positions: These positions include a President, Treasurer, Job Coordinator and sometimes a Secretary or Member at large.  For more information about the Board positions and their responsibilities, please click here.

• Buildings and Grounds: Organizes annual work days, supervises and maintains records of maintenance projects, carries out or supervises upkeep of building equipment (i.e. regular cleaning of furnace filter, septic clean-out, etc.) tracks building needs and reports on necessary upcoming maintenance projects (short-term and long-term).

• Fundraising Jobs: Oversee a specific fundraising event such as: Wreath sale, Spaghetti Dinner, Seed sale, or Mountain Magic Run.

• Operations Jobs: Works to ensure the daily operations of the preschool function -Website, Snack & Cleaning Coordinator, Grant Researcher/Writer.

Members will participate in work parties. 
(Buy-out options are available.)
Every year, in late summer and again in spring, the Preschool holds a Work Party, during which member families complete some of the larger maintenance projects needed at the Preschool. Each family is asked to send at least one adult to the “work” portion of the day, which usually lasts for about two to three hours. It’s a great time to meet other families and to do the important projects that our aging building requires.

​If your family is unable to attend the Work Party, you must contact the Buildings and Grounds Committee to figure out a project for you to complete at another time. Each family is responsible for approximately 4 hours of work/academic year. A buy-out is available for $10/hour of work.

Members will participate in fundraising endeavors.  (Buy-out options are available.)
Fundraising is one of the keys to keeping the Preschool’s tuition costs down. All families are required to participate in fundraising activities, as directed by the Board. Each family is responsible for raising a minimum of $200 in the fundraisers. If you do not meet this minimum or know you do not want to fundraise you can buy out the remaining amount.

Members will share in snack responsibility.
Depending on enrollment, snack responsibilities consist of bringing in snack for your child’s class between 2-6 times/academic year. On your snack days, please bring a healthy, low-sugar snack and beverage to class. Unless we are celebrating a special occasion and you have discussed it with our teacher, we ask that you do not bring candy as part of snack time.

Families will be notified before the start of preschool of food allergies of enrolled children. Parents have the right to keep food allergy information confidential and anonymous or to choose to share that information with all the parents since they are the snack providers. Should one of the children suffer from a peanut allergy, you must take extreme caution in choosing appropriate snack foods. Accidental eating of peanuts or peanut products by someone with a peanut allergy can be fatal. Please carefully check labels of snack foods to ensure that they contain no peanuts or peanut oil. There is a $10 restocking fee if you neglect to bring a snack.
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Birthdays and holidays are special events at the Preschool and we welcome parents to send special snacks to celebrate them. There will be sign-up sheets at school for holiday party snacks and treats.

Members will attend the Annual Parent Meeting.
The Annual Meeting is held each year in May. At this meeting, parents of children enrolled for the coming year meet and elect a board of directors for the coming year, set tuition rates, and conduct all other necessary business. Every family is required to participate in this meeting.

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