School closure and effect on preschools

[Anonymous]

The school closure seems to be for K-12 schools. VA is also under a stay at home order until June 10. What does this mean for preschool?

Context: Preschool year ends June 12. Preschool charged full tuition for March, none for April, and wants 50% for May. June is prepaid is the deposit for registering last year. Preschool policy says they charge 1 month's tuition for withdrawal after March 1, but withdrawal can be at any time.

It seems to be that withdrawing means that they will keep the June payment, but we would not be liable for the 50% tuition in May. I think they're going to keep the June payment in addition to the 50% requested for May if we do not withdraw. It's not a cheap preschool (like a $300/month church-based preschool). If the "tuition" includes extended day and not just the regular school day, I'm talking about ~$650 ($1,300/month). And yes, this was only a 3 day/week program too...

I'm inclined to think there's no chance the preschools will reopen this school year. Does anyone think differently? I don't want to withdraw and kick myself that they reopened briefly in late May/June. However, we do have other kids that have no chance of returning to school since they're closed for the remainder of the whole school year, so what's one more stuck at home?

[Anonymous]

I don’t anticipate half day preschools re opening.

And daycare doesn’t make any sense for anyone but essential workers. If grade school is unsafe, classrooms of children younger than 5 that have significantly greater contact with their caregivers and classmates, and require help with toileting, diaper changing, nose wiping, etc are going to be significantly riskier for longer.

[Anonymous]

These are good points. I’m also wondering about my half day preschool, but for next year. They are always closed in the summer but plan to reopen in the fall. We already put down a deposit and were supposed to start paying April 1 for the fall (we pay by semester) but didn’t pay because of all the uncertainly. I’m even wondering if they can reopen at all! Shouldn’t they be reaching out to us parents? How can they have a plan when there is so much uncertainty?

[Anonymous]

Paying tuition but not getting service seems not fair for parents. I heard preschool can get grants from the state for the financial losses.