Linden Tree Preschool Shut Down By Department of Health

Update, Saturday, May 11, 4:08 pm:

School officials have notified parents that the Linden Tree Preschool will continue be closed through Wednesday.

Below is a copy of a letter sent to parents by Christ Church Cobble Hill wardens:

Dear Linden Tree Parents:

In our conversations with the Department of Health officials it has become apparent that this situation cannot be clarified before Wednesday May 15th at the earliest. We need to inform you that the school will remain closed through Wednesday May 15th, at least. As we gain more information we will keep you informed. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. Please know that we are working our hardest in an effort to resolve this situation.

Sincerely,

Jay Butler
Warden Christ Church

Greg Paul
Warden Christ Church

***
Update 11 pm: Parents of students at the Linden Tree Preschool received notification at 10 p.m. Thursday evening from Warden Greg Paul that school would not be in session on Friday. Staff members are reportedly hopeful that the closure is a paperwork formality and that classes may resume next week, sources said.

The closure by the DOH is the latest in a series of hardships for the preschool which, despite collecting an average income of more than $800,000 annually, has struggled in recent months to find an audience with the Head of the School and the Vestry in order to secure its longevity and a permanent location, according to staff.

***

Update 7 pm: Patch has received confirmation that the preschool was operating without a permit.

***

BREAKING Thursday, May 9 5 pm: The Linden Tree Preschool operated by Christ Church Cobble Hill Has been shut down by the Department of Health indefinitely.

According to a source, the Brooklyn preschool was operating out of Sacred Heart-St. Stephen’s parish facilities without a permit and has not requested one to continue.

An alert was sent out to parents around 10:30 a.m. by office manager Anne Granville, who stated that officials from the DOH arrived at the Brooklyn preschool and ordered it closed until "Father Ronald Lau, Head of School, appears before them to rectify the situation."

Children are reportedly safe, according to parents who spoke with Patch, but unable to return to the school until future notice.

Principal Susan Kuhlmann and staff members are currently trying to contact Lau at the Christ Church Cobble Hill rectory for answers.

Requests for comment from the DOH and from Father Ron Lau as of press time had not yet been responded to.

The Linden Tree Preschool has been temporarily operating out of a basement belonging to Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen's parish since the tower at Christ Church was struck by lightning last summer, rendering the structure uninhabitable until further renovations.

Recently parents at the school publicly criticized Christ Church for a lack of transparency and communication in the storm aftermath. The school has been in the process of looking for a new, permanent home to move to in June.

Stay with Patch for updates.