The Lawler Family Resource Center will be closing the preschool at the elementary school at the end of September.

One service of the center is to help parents find daycare.

The Church of Joy, located next to the school, will soon be opening a daycare which will continue the opportunity for the service near the school.

Principal Charlie Crain said the preschool was started at the school because it was needed and the resource center had the option of providing daycare if none was available.

Currently 40 students are enrolled in the program. Space is a concern in every public school in the county and with the availability of the church preschool, the center can begin to offer other services to help students, parents and the community.

A statement from the church was issued Friday, Aug. 29:

"The mission of Church of Joy has always been service motivated. We have looked for ways to help serve our community and be a part of its ever expanding needs.

We had studied and recognized the need for child care service in our church area, but after Lawler Elementary started such a service, we felt it unnecessary to duplicate what they were doing. Now, time has again offered us an opportunity to fulfill this plan.

We are excited to announce that we will be starting a before and after school program for the students of Lawler Elementary. We have targeted Oct. 1 as an opening date! It is our plans to offer professional care, with the students physical and educational needs being considered. We will have a staffed elementary teacher on duty that can help with special tutoring if needed, or desired. We will also have recreational opportunities for students that are ready to unwind at the end of a long school day.

These activities will be both indoor and outdoor games.

We are so happy to offer this service. If you have any question about care for your school age child, please call the Church of Joy office at 259-3926."