Rustic Canyon CO-OP Nursery School Closes

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Rustic Canyon Cooperative Nursery School announced that after 73 years in the community, it closed on June 30.

The school, located in Rustic Canyon, was organized by a group of local parents who sought an enriching experience for themselves and their children. It offered a range of programming for both students and their guardians.

The school was incorporated as a nonprofit educational corporation, licensed by the state of California, in 1956. Rustic Canyon CO-OP Nursery School offered a developmental two-year school program, which followed a traditional school calendar—running from late August to early June.

The school encouraged family participation, requiring a parent, step-parent, legal guardian or grandparent to participate and volunteer one day per month on campus.

Director Eve Pontius previously told the Palisadian-Post the school was experiencing low enrollment since the COVID-19 pandemic, and she did “not want to lose it due to COVID.”

On June 3, the school announced to social media that it would be closing its doors due to “COVID-related problems” and “lack of funds.”

“It is with much sadness that we must close the school,” according to the statement, signed by Pontius. “COVID affected our ability to reopen during part of the 2019-2020 school year, part of the 2020-2021 school year and we reopened to low enrollment during the 2021-2022 school year.”

Pontius led the school for over 35 years and had seen it evolve, working with alumni and their children. With plans to retire in the coming year, Pontius reported that the school had hired a new “vibrant” staff, including Kathy Drakos and lead teacher Alexys Buckner.

“We tried to keep the school going, hiring a wonderful team of teachers for the 2022-2023 school year,” the statement read. “Memories of the many, many happy and wonderful times spent with families will remain with me forever. I cannot express how much I have loved working with [the] children at Rustic Canyon Cooperative Nursery School.

“It has been a joyful life for me and I hope that you share that same feeling of joy when you think of the school and your moment in time at the school.”

The school hosted a farewell event on June 30, which Pontius said was “amazing.”

“We really enjoyed seeing so many families and friends at the Rustic Canyon Cooperative Nursery School ‘Goodbye’ event on June 30,” Pontius wrote.

Beginning August 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., staff members will be available to meet with families every other Friday, as they clean out the school over the next months. Parents are encouraged to email rusticcanyonns@gmail.com to set up a “meet and greet” with Pontius.

“Thank you to everyone for your love and appreciation for our sweet school,” the post concluded.