Parents stunned by Castro Valley preschool closure

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- The sudden closure of a Castro Valley preschool is leaving parents scrambling to find a new place for their children. The private school is closing for good on Friday and parents only got the word last week.

The closure will affect about 130 children. The reason for the closure is because the property will be eventually sold. And that's something Georgina Armstrong, director of the preschool, knew but didn't tell parents.

"I received (an) email on Friday afternoon and I was in shock," said parent Dana Pazdirek.

Parents of Camelot School in Castro Valley have less than five days to find a new school for their children.

"Now we are all scrambling to find alternative childcare in a community that has wait lists and don't have spots for our kids," said parent Ashley Mercier.

The preschool has been leasing the property from the San Lorenzo School District for close to $10,000 a month. Last October, the school board voted to begin the process of selling it.

"It's a surplus property and the district has the right to do what they need to do depending on the needs," said Annette Heldman with the San Lorenzo School District.

On April 10, the school district notified Camelot's director. The preschool now had six months to vacate the property. Except that Armstrong never reached out to parents or teachers and instead waited until last Friday to tell them.

"I told her, 'why didn't you tell us or at least we deserve that you call us and talk to us in person, not over email,'" said Pazdirek. "It's not a restaurant, it's a school."

Armstrong met again with a few parents on Monday but would not talk to us. Parents say she admitted knowing back in April the school would have to close.

"She actually knew for several months but she didn't want parents or teachers to know because the quality of care would degrade," said one parent.

At least two nearby preschools have stepped in and have added a few of the Camelot kids. Others will have to begin the process of finding somewhere else to go.