July 15, 2023 / By mobanmarket
ELMHURST, IL — Neither the website nor Facebook page for Elmhurst Academy of Early Learning indicates the preschool’s changed circumstances.
But a trip to the building at 212 W. Lake St. shows that something is different: Nobody is there.
In an interview, Colleen Odegaard, the school’s founder and executive director, said the school was registering for summer and the 2022-23 school year.
Asked about the current situation, Odegaard said no children are at the school now, but they are expected to return next week. She said children were at the school as recently as last week.
Odegaard said the school was suffering from staffing shortages and delayed payments from the state government.
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Odegaard recently emailed parents announcing a “temporary” closure of one of the academy’s programs. She said the school was going through a “transitional period and hopes to bring this program against next year.” She cited lower enrollment and staffing shortages.
The state Department of Children and Family Services database on day care providers shows that Elmhurst Academy’s license status is “pending renewal application.” A department spokesman said a school can continue to operate during the renewal process.
The preschool was established in 1981.
The school’s website said it provides children hands-on experiences, allowing them to grasp concepts that give them a foundation for future learning.
“Children learn by exploring items in their surroundings,” the website said. “Through this investigative process, children learn math and science concepts, language skills, fine-motor control, sensory-motor skills, social skills and so much more.”
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