Raleigh preschool closes suddenly, giving parents 48 hours notice

The International Preschool of Raleigh near Brier Creek closed suddenly on Monday, giving parents only 48 hours of notice.

A letter sent to parents on Saturday reads: "We want you to know that each of you and your children have held a special place in our hearts. The emotional toll of these events on us, the IPR staff, is profound. We have cherished the time spent with your children and the trust you have placed in us."

The preschool at 2730 Godley Lane serves children ages 2 to 5. Parents were given two days' notice of the closure and were asked to pick up their child's personal items on Monday or Tuesday between 9 a.m. and noon.

A person connected to the preschool told WRAL News the closure impacts at least 25 kids and their families in the Brier Creek area.

The preschool said the termination of the lease agreement with the landlord and MornWind Education, which owns the International Preschool of Raleigh, "was not taken lightly."

A statement from China-based MornWind Education said enrollment has plummeted since the pandemic and that it has struggled to keep the preschool open.

The statement reads:

"Pre-pandemic, our average enrollment was around 90 students, today it is less than 50 students. Our income has suffered greatly, it has basically been cut in half. But are costs haven't reduced and even became more."

MornWind Education, based in Beijing, China, has operated the International Preschool of Raleigh for 17 years.

MornWind went on to say rent increased last year, and after MornWind invested more than $150,000 to help the preschool stay open, it is now unable to transfer money from China to the United States due to government regulation.

The school and MornWind did say efforts are underway to try to reopen the school, but for now it is closed to families.

Chris Valentine is one of dozens of parents now without childcare this week.

"I work [and] my wife's in school. She also runs her own business, so we're juggling that," he said.

Valentine is also possibly out of thousands of dollars. He said he paid "$4,950 because I decided to pay up front for the full year."

Deanna Baker, the former head of the school, said she just learned of the decision Saturday and has very little contact with the Beijing-based company.

Baker said the school was still enrolling students last week.

"That's the last communication that I received or the company here in the U.S. received from the company in China," Baker said. "I had parents out here who had literally just enrolled their child on Friday."

Baker said she doesn't know if tuition will be refunded for parents like Valentine.

"I can't answer those questions. I am an employee, not an owner," she said.

Valentine has spent Monday trying to reach someone but said has heard nothing.

"I think that's the big, tough part is it just doesn't seem like there's somebody I can voice my concern with," he said.