School will transition childcare operations to TAP
The Board of Trustees for Greenvale School and Total Action for Progress in Roanoke (“TAP”) have announced that they will expand upon TAP’s existing Head Start operations within Greenvale School, creating an opportunity for more affordable childcare in Northwest Roanoke. This change, effective August 19, positions TAP as the manager for all of Greenvale School’s daytime childcare programs, all of which will be part of TAP’s Head Start program.
Since 1934, Greenvale School has provided services to families and children in the Roanoke Valley including preschool and Kindergarten, before and after-school programs, sick child care, and clothing and food donations. In recent years, Greenvale has focused on providing affordable childcare to Northwest Roanoke, with a focus on infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
For the last twenty years, Greenvale School operated its own childcare classrooms, while partnering with TAP to operate a portion of TAP’s Head Start operations as classrooms within Greenvale School. TAP will now operate all day-time childcare programs located at Greenvale School. TAP will continue to operate childcare services at its 18 centers throughout its service area.
Greenvale School’s Board of Trustees President Brooks A. Duncan said, “Greenvale looks forward to continuing its work with TAP to increase access to affordable childcare for children in Northwest Roanoke. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank all of the teachers and staff at Greenvale for their hard work and dedication to the children Greenvale serves.”
TAP’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs are free for families whose household income meets specific eligibility requirements. TAP’s Head Start programs serve 10 southwest Virginia communities—from the Highlands to the Roanoke Valley. TAP and Greenvale are working together to enroll all eligible children currently attending Greenvale into TAP’s expanded Head Start and Early Head Start programs at the school.
TAP President and CEO, Annette Lewis said, “We are focused on Head Start’s national mission of the importance of early childhood education, health, social and other services in shaping the child of today for tomorrow. We look forward to expanding our Head Start services at Greenvale School, and continuing to serve the families of Northwest Roanoke.”
Following this transition, it is expected that many of Greenvale’s teachers will continue in their current roles as employees of TAP, subject to TAP’s Head Start hiring requirements. TAP and Greenvale are working together to find employment opportunities for other Greenvale employees who will not continue in their current roles, and are providing transitional assistance to any employees who separate from employment during the transition.
Sandra Carroll Vandergrift, former Greenvale School Executive Director, said, “We thank the many employees, community partners, and families who have made the last 85 years such a success. Greenvale has helped families build stability and has provided a nurturing environment for children that prepares them for elementary school and beyond. I am proud of Greenvale School’s legacy, and support this transition as a sustainable path forward for the school.”
TAP is a community action agency that serves eleven localities in the Roanoke Valley and adjacent communities: the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Roanoke, and Rockbridge, and the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Roanoke, and Salem. TAP helps individuals and families achieve economic and personal independence through education, employment, affordable housing, and safe and healthy environments. It operates over 25 programs for over 5,000 individuals annually. TAP’s Head Start program operates in 18 centers in TAP’s service area and partners with 11 private child care centers in the Cities of Blacksburg, Covington, Lexington, Pulaski, and Roanoke; and the Counties of Alleghany, Craig, Giles and Roanoke.
Greenvale School will continue to work with community partners to identify other ways to provide services to Northwest Roanoke through the school’s location on Westwood Boulevard. The Greenvale School is establishing a foundation to maintain this facility as a site for community focused services, including TAP’s Head Start programs, and to continue funding child-focused scholarships that benefit the Northwest Roanoke community. Fortunately, there is still available space at the school, and the Greenvale School Foundation welcomes inquiries from service providers and financial support from the community as it works to continue its mission to provide affordable childcare and other services to the Northwest Roanoke community. For more information on the Greenvale School Foundation, please email [email protected].
Greenvale School’s Executive Director LeeAnn Linkenhoker said, “Greenvale School is excited to strengthen our relationship with the Northwest Roanoke community and plans to preserve Greenvale’s legacy by working with other organizations who, too, want to provide opportunities to children and families in Northwest Roanoke.”
Both Greenvale School and TAP are non-profit organizations that accept charitable donations. If you are interested in donating to either organization to support childcare services, scholarships, or to help defray operational costs, please don’t hesitate to go to www.greenvale-school.org or www.tapintohope.org. Most donations are tax deductible.
