Parents and teachers press board to keep Mila and V preschools open; district agrees to take further steps

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District on Feb. 12 held a lengthy discussion after staff presented projections that the district’s two community preschools could lose roughly 40% of their enrollment next school year and run significant operating deficits.

Assistant Superintendent Dr Wildy told the board the preschools — known in the district as Mila and V — are projected to fall from 168 to about 110 students at Mila and from 99 to roughly 60 at V, a change staff attributes largely to the state’s rollout of universal transitional kindergarten. With those projections, staff estimated operating deficits of about $383,000 at Mila and $118,000 at V for 2025–26 unless enrollment and revenue are increased.

Why it matters: the preschools serve local families and, in the case of V, provide a full‑inclusion setting with state‑funded special‑education supports that parents said cannot be easily replicated at other sites. Several speakers warned that closing Mila or V would reduce access to early intervention and child‑care options on the east side of the district.

Dozens of parents, alumni and long‑time teachers urged the board not to close the programs. "Mila is an extended family," said Elaine Santiso, a teacher at V, asking the board to invest in outreach rather than staff cuts. Preschool teacher Melanie Fa said, "Children need consistency, love and care — that's exactly what Mila provides." Robert Dtz, representing after‑school employees and caregivers, urged the district to remove hiring freezes and invest in in‑house staff rather than outsourcing Kids Corner services.

Staff recommended a set of measures to try to avert closures: increased marketing and updated website materials; consideration of revenue‑generating classes (for example, Mommy‑and‑Me); right‑sizing scheduling and staffing; and exploring whether some TK capacity could be moved to Mila if feasible. Dr Wildy also noted two licensed classrooms at Mila could be used immediately while two other rooms would require modifications to meet licensing standards.

Board members from across the dais expressed reluctance to make an immediate closure decision. "Rather than jumping too quickly to close a program I would like to take the time to look at all the options," said Board Member Gandhi, who urged expanded outreach and careful right‑sizing. Several board members asked staff for a streamlined budget showing the operating picture excluding COVID carry‑forwards and a plan to return with updated enrollment and revenue estimates.

Procedural notes and next steps: staff said a March 15 layoff‑notice deadline may apply for some positions but that notices could be rescinded if projections change. The board asked staff to increase marketing immediately (banners, website updates), provide a comparison of preschool tuition and capacity in nearby communities, evaluate the legal and logistical steps to move TK to Mila if needed, and return with an update in the fall; one board member requested a streamlined budget plan within two weeks.

The board did not vote on a closure or a final staffing decision at the meeting. Staff’s recommendation remains to maintain operations at both preschool sites while pursuing outreach and cost‑saving measures; the board directed staff to return with progress reports and updated projections.

Community impact: speakers repeatedly said the preschool sites are a unique local resource that provide continuity and early intervention services; parents warned that consolidating sites would create transportation and access barriers for families on the east side of the peninsula. Staff acknowledged the fiscal strain and emphasized the district must balance preserving valued programs with an overall budget that is tightening due to declining enrollment.

What comes next: staff will begin the outreach and marketing steps discussed, continue feasibility work on program and scheduling options, and return to the board with updated projections and a more streamlined budget for preschools. The board indicated it intends to reexamine the item as the school year unfolds rather than moving immediately to closure.