The Whidbey Island Waldorf School has been awarded $50,000 from the Washington State Department of Commerce to help expand the growing need for childcare on the island.

During the pandemic, enrollment in early childhood programs at the school expanded from 50 to 73 children and the classes for the next school year have waiting lists.

The school plans to use the money to expand their septic system and construct a new restroom. As part of the grant, the school is working with a local architect to determine a new vision for the campus.

Separate from the grant, community donations are funding the construction of a new restroom on the property for grade school students, who have moved out of the main building to make way for the expanding class sizes of toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners.

Lori Barian, an administrator at the Waldorf school, says: “We love what we’re doing and we’d love to do more of it… We’re impressed with how many families have been moving to the island with young children. It’s very exciting because a strong early childhood program here leads to larger grade school classrooms.”

Read the article at the Whidbey News Times
Photo Credit: Whidbey Island Waldorf School