They’re hoping that Sunshine won’t go away

COSTA MESA — Four years ago, Mary Abbott found herself in a typical spot for parents of young children. Her oldest son was nearing preschool age and she wanted him to start his education but still felt a little wary of leaving him for hours at a time.

Her prayers were answered when a friend introduced her to Sunshine Cooperative Preschool. The school, on the grounds of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant on Fairview Road, involved parents on campus every day. Abbott signed her two children up and became a regular volunteer, helping with story times, crafts and monthly field trips.

Now, Abbott and her husband, Nick, are looking to give something else back to Sunshine. The church has given word that it plans to terminate the school’s lease in the summer of 2008, and the Abbotts are leading the search for a new location.

Parents at Sunshine have spent the last few weeks calling friends, churches and other locations around town to look for a residence. They haven’t found one yet, but whether they settle on another church, a home or something else, the Abbotts want Sunshine to be up and running next year.

“My worst fear would be that we just go away,” Mary Abbott said. “That would be tragic.”

Sunshine Cooperative Preschool, which opened at a home in 1965, has leased its location at the church since 1970. With the church’s own children’s program growing in membership, however, officials want the additional space. Office administrator Carol Whitman said it was a hard decision, since her church had a good working relationship with the preschool.

“They’ve been here a long time, and they’ve been great to work with, but with the programs expanding, we have to look at these things,” she said.

The children’s program, which holds activities on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, offers classes in cooking, crafts and storytelling along with Bible studies. The program operates on a small section of the church grounds, while the preschool takes up three rooms and a gated yard in back.

Sunshine serves up to 24 children Monday through Friday, with a Wednesday afternoon program for up to 10 children. Monthly tuition pays nearly all the school’s expenses — and at $100 to $120 a month, it’s a bargain in an area where many private preschools charge more than $500.

With the staffers having gotten the news from the church in December, they’re now keen to preserve that operation wherever they can.

“We offer a great service to the community,” said Sunshine director Lynda LeBlanc. “It’s a shame because if we don’t find another place, we’re out of business.”