Co-op schools are organized for parents who want to be involved in their child’s first educational experiences. Hobson has prospered, since 1964, from the combined efforts of parents and the professional teaching staff. It does take time for parents to co-op but the time spent is rewarding for both children and their families – we are building a community at Hobson. Visitors have sometimes wondered EXACTLY how much parent time is required for our parent co-op. It’s hard to say exactly but here’s an estimate:
PARENT/CHILD FAMILIES (for 2 year olds): One parent comes to each class with their child. The parents of this class are required to purchase or sell two tickets to the dinner/dance fundraising event.
2-day and 3-day families are involved and support our families in the following ways:
PARENT PARTICIPATION IN CLASS - Participation in their child’s class is rotated and each family participates about once every 5 -6 weeks. Young siblings do not come – sometimes parents trade childcare for them. The 3 – Day classes for 4’s and young 5’s have one parent in class each day and the 2 – Day classes for 3’s have 2 parents each day. A room parent schedules parent participation evenly throughout the year and as conveniently as possible for parents; if there is a scheduling conflict parents may trade with each other.
JOB COMMITTEES - We depend on the help of parent committees and every job meets the needs of the program and is important. The amount of time and type of work that committees do varies. We have attempted to spread tasks out as evenly as possible. Larger tasks have large committees and plans for delegating the work. Parents sign up for their job through a lottery held in the spring. If parents have 2 children at Hobson they are only on one committee. All committees are chaired by one of our parent board members.
PARENT WORKDAYS – Parents work together as a class on one parent workday each year. We spruce up our building and grounds and handle minor repairs. Workdays are on a Saturday afternoon. We accomplish the tasks and parents enjoy meeting each other and working together. If a parent absolutely can’t attend the class workday, the family must make up the workday at a later time.
FUNDRAISING– Basic operating expenses and improved staff compensation are achieved through fundraising supplements to tuition. All families are required to help with the two largest fundraisers:
Hobson Gala/Auction- Each family is required to sell or purchase two tickets to the event.
Bike/Sport Sale- Each family is required to work a shift for the sale on Friday evening before the sale or on the Saturday morning of the sale. All families who work during those shifts get to come to the pre-sale. Parents who absolutely can’t work a shift will make up that obligation by assisting with another co-op need.
