Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world: indeed it is the only thing that ever has." That sentiment aptly describes Northpoint Co-op preschool. The co-op is that wonderful place where children develop their love of learning. There parents gather together to support and trade ideas with one another as they forge lasting friendships and help knit our community together.
Co-op preschools began to develop in the United States as early as 1915 when faculty wives at the University of Chicago were reading and discussing new theories on the importance of early learning1. The model varied as it spread, and by the late 1940's when Washington co-ops began, the model included the parents serving as the all-volunteer board and committee members that ran the school. Those parents hired the only paid staff: teachers who planned a stimulating and rich learning environment for the children. Parents also volunteered in the classroom to ensure a safe and happy learning lab for their children and themselves.
Locally, at the same time the Dash Point Preschool PTA formed to foster school involvement and to support parents with very young children. Minutes from the late 1940's indicate the group regularly scheduled speakers on parenting topics requested by parents of preschool and kindergarten age children. While there were no regularly scheduled classes for preschoolers in the beginning, informal play groups began to form. Parents started taking turns leading the children in activities while the parents met.
By the late 1950's, Washington State was helping fund technical assistance to co-ops through the Seattle school district and vocational technical institutes (now technical colleges) such as Bates Technical College in Tacoma. Research and an enthusiastic group of parents lobbying for co-ops convinced legislators that helping young children and families learn together and build a supportive network would prove to be advantageous to State. One of the advantages was that co-op preschools would save the State money in the future. Later studies, such as the long term Perry Preschool Study in the 1980's, proved the economic advantage of supporting parents and young children. Studies demonstrated that as parents participated in their children's early learning experiences, they tended to stay involved as their children grew. That involvement meant the majority of the children grew to be responsible citizens, avoiding unhealthy and illegal youth activities. In addition their were far fewer cases of parental abuse and neglect, frequent by-products of parents raising their children in isolation. The co-op by nature fostered community and was a powerful anti-dote to these rampant problems. The legislators concluded that co-ops were a better buy than additional juvenile detention centers, generally a far better way to spend public funds. The fact that the co-op parents were simply asking for technical support and not classrooms and teachers was also a great selling feature.
As the years rolled on, Northeast Tacoma PTA came about, joining the Dash Point Preschool PTA. Play groups evolved as the PTA's grew larger, and parents contacted Bates Technical College (then a Vocational Technical Institute). The group had heard Bates had helped bring about two newly formed Tacoma cooperative preschools in Tacoma. After consulting, Bates sent the parents to observe Jack & Jill Co-op and to come back when it was clear the group wanted to own and operate their school.
Parents from the Northeast Tacoma play group who were meeting in the Northeast Tacoma Elementary School building were the first to make the decision to become a formal co-op. In the late 1950's they became affiliated with Bates. By then a Browns Point PTA had also formed. The Dash Point-Browns Point parents soon followed suit and by 1960, Meeker Co-op also affiliated with Bates and had moved to the St. Matthews Episcopal Church building. Both co-ops were small with 16-20 members, and finding facilities they could afford proved challenging. The two groups merged in 1974 to become Northpoint Co-op Preschool. Northeast Tacoma co-op had been meeting at the Baptist Church building (since demolished), and then moved with Meeker Co-op to the Browns Point Methodist Church building.
Northpoint Co-op was then serving 35-40 children, and finding a facility in which to conduct classes was difficult. The growing school moved six times in the 20 years after the merger. Area churches were very generous and kept fees only to pay for utilities: St Matthews Episcopal Church, Marine View Presbyterian Church, Browns Point United Methodist Church, and Resurrection Lutheran Church. Tacoma Public Schools also helped by providing rented space. Northpoint was able to use the historic Dash Point School (built in 1924) and also a portable then located on the current Browns Point campus.
The second move to the Dash Point School (which had closed in 1993 and was leased to Marine View Presbyterian Church) proved expensive. The old building, while fairly sound, needed seismic strengthening to make the co-op parents and teachers feel confident it was safe for the children and for themselves. With the full cooperation of Marine View Presbyterian Church and the School District the group used the funds they had been accruing for many years to pay for the seismic strengthening project. The Points Northeast Historical Society added over $3000 to help maintain the aesthetics of the building in keeping with its history.
As Northpoint grew in size, it became known as a great place to be involved, find support and information, and provide children with rich learning experiences. Bates Technical College provided outstanding support and guidance along the way. The community appreciated the school as a positive organization that fostered a sense of greater community and sharing.
Northpoint Co-op subleased the old Dash Point School from Marine View Presbyterian Church until June 2004. That year, after 18 months of negotiations among the school district, the church and a dedicated co-op facility committee (which included the grandfather of one of the students) the building and the entire school campus was sold by Tacoma Public Schools to Marine View Presbyterian Church and the tall white building leased back to the co-op in perpetuity by the Church. The co-op celebrated by using funds from a very successful auction to build a well-equipped playground on the 3400 sq. ft. of property that came with the 8000 sq. ft. building.
That effort was the realization of a goal set over 20 years prior when the 1983 group of parents had begun a permanent building fund as membership and space needs increased. Their minutes reflect they had $1,327 in savings, of which $870 was registration, $32 in May tuition and $42 in remaining scholarship. They voted to set aside $300 for the building fund, leaving $168.63 in checking. Each group since 1983 made donations to the building fund through fundraisers (including increasingly successful auctions), direct mail solicitations and grants. The school spent the grant money on facility seismic strengthening, paint, and the replacement of aging systems such as the heating and lighting. Since June of 2004 over $120,000 has been raised to pay for new doors, floors and windows, painting the exterior, and a number of other improvements.
For many years, current parents, committed and talented teachers, and dedicated alumni and community members were determined the Co-op have a home. In the more recent past, those same groups of people have made that home an extraordinary place for children and families. Their foresight and generosity still inspires Northpoint to raise money and wisely steward its incredible building and program. The 2010 Golden Jubilee auction celebrates 50 years of the Northpoint Co-op, and looks forward to many more years of quality schooling and community for future generations.
1Taylor, Katherine Whiteside. Parent and Children Learn Together (1981).