Embattled Epworth Preschool closing for the school year

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - A preschool operated through Epworth United Methodist Church is closing for the school year after firing their director and teacher resignations.

The church made the announcement Thursday, saying they would not have the teaching staffing necessary to reopen.

“Even throughout this week and up to this moment, we have been working tirelessly to onboard teachers to replace those who resigned.,” Epworth said in a statement. “Further, we worked to make sure the rooms were ready and all things prepared for you and the children. Unfortunately, we just don’t have the teaching staff in place to reopen this school year.”

Teachers from Epworth tell 13abc they were shocked and disappointed by the statement, saying that the teachers had met and agreed to a plan to finish out the rest of the school year. They didn’t want to interrupt the students’ education.

“We were ready, we met on Monday. We had a lot of the schedule shifting,” said Becca Murray, a teacher at Epworth Preschool. “I was going to take a couple of extra shifts because some teachers might be on spring break, but we were all going to be there. We are ready to go. Some people were even going to take inside the office just to be ready to man the phones or whatever we need to do, but we were going to be ready for those kids because they are our families.”

The firing of Jane Lyon by the church board led to multiple resignations by staff, and the preschool shut down earlier in March. The school initially said it wanted to re-open by March 27.

Lyon has accused leadership of misappropriating funds, which the church denies.

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