Longtime Elmhurst Preschool Still Closed

ELMHURST, IL – Early Monday afternoon, a stack of mail fastened by a rubber band lay on the doorstep at Elmhurst Academy of Early Learning, 212 W. Lake St. No footprints could be seen in the snow on the playground, other than those of animals.

On Feb. 1, the preschool’s executive director, Colleen Odegaard, told Patch it would reopen in a week. It did not.

The preschool’s front door, website and Facebook page give no indication the school is closed, though the Facebook page’s last update was in November.

In messages to Patch, parents have inquired about when they will get refunds for their February payments. In an email Tuesday, Odegaard said credits for any outstanding student tuition have been issued.

In Patch’s last interview with Odegaard nearly two weeks ago, she said the school was registering for the 2022-23 school year. Children were at the school as recently as late January, she said.

At the time, Odegaard said the school was suffering from staffing shortages and delayed payments from the state government. She referred to the closure as temporary.

The preschool was established in 1981.

The school's website said it provides children hands-on experiences, allowing them to grasp concepts that give them a foundation for future learning.

"Children learn by exploring items in their surroundings," the website said. "Through this investigative process, children learn math and science concepts, language skills, fine-motor control, sensory-motor skills, social skills and so much more."