Our History

Back in 1956, mothers bringing their children to Mrs. Lassiter's Friday Rhythm Band at the Community House on Cook Avenue found that amusing all the younger nonparticipating children was quite a chore. Several of the mothers decided to set up a baysitting exchange in one of the second floor rooms. With financial assistance from the Thursday Morning Club, the Mother's Club was organized, complete with constitution and bylaws. Mothers donated their time as teachers and assistants until February 1957 when it was voted to charge a fee for the remainder of the school session, in turn putting the teachers on salary. In the spring of 1957, it was realized that the state required that a nursery group consisting of more than five children be State licensed and staffed by qualified teachers. Thus, 1958 marked the hiring of qualified teachers, paid assistants, and our State certification. In 1959, the Madison Cooperative Nursery School added an "Inc." to its name and set forth its objectives in bylaws.

By September 1959, our Nursery School had moved from the Community House to Grace Episcopal Church. The following year, we boasted four classes, two teachers, two assistants, and our first bylaws revision. Since the hiring of our Teacher-Director in 1962, our school has grown and now offers two, three, and four-day classes for 2 1/2, 3 and 4-year-olds.

We are proud of those "participating" parents who created our school with the hope of offering interested parents a chance to join a cooperative - an opportunity to share in their child's first educational experience.