BOCA RATON, Fla. - A staple in the Boca Raton community for more than 40 years will shut its doors for good, which has many families devastated and forced to find alternatives for their children.
“It’s just very difficult,” said Linda Brodsky, who fought to hold back tears.
Rainbow of Love Preschool is a piece of her heart, her history and a fixture in the community. Little kids walk in as strangers but quickly are embraced as family.
“My heart is broken and my heart is sad,” Brodsky said. “It’s really teaching the children that tolerance and compassion has to be in our society, and it all starts right here.”
Brodsky has been the school’s director since 1986, but the school first opened in 1977. On Monday, a letter went home telling parents the doors will officially be closing.
“We’ve got some that they went to school here, and now their children are here,” Brodsky said.
Brian Stenberg is sad to see the school close. All four of his kids attended Rainbow, a place he says where they were nurtured, protected and learned vital skills for later in life.
“We’re still friends with people we met years ago through the school and through our kids, so the news spread quickly and a lot of people are sad about it,” Stenberg said.
Rainbow is part of the ministry of the Trinity Church of God. Brodsky said both are now closing due to the congregation dwindling over the years.
Many parents have posted on social media saying they wish it could stay open, but Brodsky says the writing is on the wall.
“As hard as that is for us to understand, I think that is what life is all about. Sometimes things just have to end, but I’m very sad,” Brodsky said.
The last day will be May 31, 2020, so the school is giving parents advanced notice before registration begins. It is also referring parents to other church-affiliated schools in the area.
It is unclear what the future holds for the property.