Christ Church Officials: 'We Blew It'

Since 2009, Linden Tree Preschool in Cobble Hill has been operating without a correct permit. Currently closed for the violation, the school may be unable to reopen for the remaining school year.

Christ Church Cobble Hill representatives met with parents and staff members on Saturday evening to address the future of its school, which was shut down suddenly by the Department of Health on Thursday. During the meeting it was revealed that the school has been operating without the correct permits for at least the last four years.

"We dropped the ball," said Bishop Provenzano of the Diocese, who acknowledged that members of the vestry should have taken responsibility for filing the correct paperwork.

Parents were visibly frustrated and expressed anger that not only is the current school year truncated but that students may be left without an option for the fall. They also alleged that church officials have not been communicative to outreach efforts over the last year.

"This issue with the Department of Health is the latest fiasco in a series of fiascos," stated another. "I couldn't have picked any of you out of a police lineup, people have reached out time and time again and your response has been nothing."

Officials responded that they had not received any of the emails or phone calls parents referred to. But the Bishop publicly offered his own contact information in an effort to offer future access.

"My promise to you is that there will be transparent communication moving forward," responded the Bishop.

Parents requested that members of Christ Church provide them with daily email updates as the permitting status evolves.

According to warden Greg Paul, who sat at a table with the Bishop, 'Head of School' Father Ron Lau and other officials in the meeting at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Carroll Street, the school currently meets "some of the criteria for a daycare."

Changes in occupancy, student ages and relocation since the school opened in 2003 have rendered grandfathered permits from when the preschool was located at Christ Church Cobble Hill now insufficient.

The preschool has been operating out of a temporary basement facility owned by Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen's parish, after Christ Church was struck by lightning last summer.

Father Ron Lau offered an apology to parents near the end of the meeting, stating that nothing had been done intentionally and that he has been overwhelmed by rebuilding issues surrounding the landmarked church.

"No one tried to mislead any of you," he said, adding that they hadn't anticipated reconstruction would take so long.

Parents expressed disillusionment, however, in light of the fact that the school had been without the correct permits for years prior to the lightning strike.

"They're just obfuscating the issue by making it appear as though it has to do with the storm and relocating to St. Stephens," said Jenni Marshall, mother of a child in the pre-k class. "But if someone had called the DOH on the Kane Street location, they still wouldn't have been in compliance."

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