Save Misaki Hoikuen!!

Our beloved Misaki Hoikeun (Japanese Nursery School) is in trouble!

History of Misaki Hoikuen.

Misaki Hoikuen was started 40 years ago using 2 apartment rooms. It was then built to what we know now as "Misaki Hoikuen" at this current location 32 years ago. Misaki provides quality child care where kids can think, learn, and have find joy in rich experiences both in and out of the classroom. The school encourages children to be more independent and to have self confidence while they learn to be compassionate to others from playing. Importantly, the school provides a safe place where children can blossom in their individuality and creativity. Currently, the school is offering karate, english, rhythms, abacus, early childhood physical education, and dance to students as daily curriculum.

They also provide well balanced lunches prepared by cooks and a nutritionist on site in their own kitchen.

94 preschool kids and 35 after school elementary kids attend the school.

They are employing 26 people including teachers, administrators, bus drivers, and cooks.

They are a private preschool and receive minimal government funding. Labor costs have increased significantly over the last few years, but the school only increased the tuition once by 4000 yen ($35) a couple of years ago. Their major monthly expense is labor which makes up approximately 70% of their monthly expenses. Minimum wage has increased, better benefits are demanded, labor laws require more breaks, etc. Because of the increased costs of providing quality child care, in April 2018 the school started the process to change the school from private to public to take advantage of the generous government funding of public preschools. The government has now decided last minute, to back out of the arranged agreement, giving parents 1 month's notice to find new schools.

The Japanese School year stars in April, so we are 3 months into the school year. Parents are facing issues with there being no space at other schools, because it is the middle of the school year. We are hoping to help raise enough money for Misaki to stay open till March 2020. That will give families time to find another school, and for slots in other schools to open up.

Misaki has never been about making a profit, and has been running into the red on and off for the last 20 years. The owner has sold her personal assets to cover the shortages for the time being because they love the community of teachers and students. Misaki believes that they have a responsibility to their students, parents, and to the community. Currently, they are $25,000 in the red per month. They are still working with the city to make the school a public preschool and are working hard to find ways to keep the school open.

Misaki could use your help! All donations raised go directly towards helping keep the school open.

Thank you for you time, and please help if you can!