Chilmark Preschool officials commemorated the completion of the preschool’s new building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday evening.
As children played on the playground in the background, around 50 people listened to speeches by community leaders and officials from South Mountain Company, the West Tisbury-based construction firm behind the building.
The building, for which construction was first approved by Chilmark voters at the annual town meeting in 2023, has the capacity to serve 38 toddlers and preschoolers. The building will feature two new classrooms, one serving toddlers ages 15 months to “2.9 years-old,” Casey Esposito, director of the Chilmark Preschool, said, and another room for preschoolers ages 2.9 to five years old named “The Hummingbird Room” in honor of Chilmark resident Jill Iscol. Iscol was the co-founder of the nonprofit IF Hummingbird Foundation.
The private, nonprofit preschool, which formerly operated out of a leased classroom at the Chilmark Elementary School for 21 years, was forced to relocate due to increasing enrollment at the elementary school. Now, the preschool has double the enrollment capacity.
Currently, 74 students are enrolled at the Chilmark Elementary School, according to Kate Squire, principal of the school.
Steve Warner, president of the preschool’s nonprofit arm Friends of the Chilmark Preschool, reflected on the effort required to complete the project.
“Standing here today, it’s truly extraordinary because this space did not happen overnight, and it certainly did not happen on its own. It’s the product of years of dedication, grit, and hope,” Warner said.
In a press release, Warner said the project was completed on time and under budget. The Friends of Chilmark Preschool raised $4.2 million, including through grants from MVYouth ($600,000) and Martha’s Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation ($200,000) and from events like comedy shows by late night host Seth Meyers for three consecutive summers (more than $500,000).
Warner expressed his appreciation to the Chilmark community for their support.
“This building belongs to our communities, and it exists because the town of Chilmark stood firmly behind our youngest learners,” Warner said. “It started with the voters approving this project at town meeting, a resounding statement that early childhood education matters.”
Deidre Bohan, CEO of South Mountain Company, underscored the strength of the preschool community.
“Through [your children], you then meet a whole selection of community members and parents and that, in my experience, forms a very core group of people that you know throughout your child’s life,” Bohan said. “Everybody who pitched in for this is part of that larger community. What we’re doing right now is just building the community for the early learners in order to keep all of this going.”
Rebekah Thomson, former president of the Chilmark Preschool Board of Directors, emphasized how the new building will benefit both the preschool and elementary school.
“Enrollment at the elementary school has soared. The preschool now has its own home, giving the leased classroom back so that the elementary school can meet the needs of its ongrowing population,” Thomson said. “[Preschoolers] are entering the school better prepared after receiving high-quality early childcare and their families have the stability and peace of mind that comes with reliable, accessible childcare.”
Esposito voiced her gratitude for the new building.
“We feel incredibly lucky to have such a beautiful, safe, and nurturing space in which to grow this program, and most importantly, to watch our children learn, explore, and thrive,” Esposito said.
