Outrage Erupts as Community-Run Kindergarten Slams Parents with $2200 Bill for Their Own Children’s Artwork
- Parents are fuming after being asked to pay $2200 for their children’s portfolios to help cover debts of a community-run preschool and kindergarten in Brisbane.
- The centre, Craigslea Kindergarten and Preschool, is registered as a charity and has been struggling financially, with a reported debt of over $40,000 to staff.
- Parents are anxious about the situation, with one parent saying their children are picking up on their anxieties and fears, and that it’s affecting their preparation for “big school”.
In a shocking move, a community-run kindergarten in Brisbane has sparked outrage by asking parents to fork out a staggering $2200 for their own children’s artwork. The centre, Craigslea Kindergarten and Preschool, is reportedly struggling to stay afloat after racking up a debt of over $40,000 to staff.
The kindergarten, which is registered as a charity, has been operating in the Brisbane suburb of Chermside West. However, it closed its doors three weeks ago due to financial troubles. In a desperate bid to raise funds, the centre’s management committee has emailed parents asking them to “oppose” or “agree” to the hefty fee to cover the debts owed to teachers.
One anxious parent, known only as Alex, spoke to Sunrise reporter Georgie Chumbley about the situation. “Obviously, we are trying to shield our children from it, but I think there would be no denying they are picking up on all the parents’ anxieties and fears around what is going on,” Alex said. “I think I know, speaking from personal experience, we are very distracted at home at the moment, trying to problem-solve this because we are all working really hard.”
Chumbley described the situation as a “precious time for the kids to get ready before they go to big school”. The reporter added that parents are currently in conversations with the education department, and hopefully, a resolution will be reached soon.
According to the Courier Mail, the committee member had previously stated that the portfolios – in which teachers collated and analysed students’ artworks – were “intellectual property of the association”. However, under Education and Care Services national regulations, parents can request certain documentation pertaining to their child at no cost.
The centre is an affiliated centre of C&K, meaning it operates as an independent incorporated association managed by a volunteer management committee usually made up of parents and guardians. C&K has said it only administered the centre’s funding and legal and compliance responsibilities.