Local church leaders were a bit concerned when the glossy signs went up in the Massapequa area announcing a new Town of Oyster Bay preschool. They became even more dismayed when flyers were sent to residents announcing that the preschool, which will be located in the Marjorie Post Park in Massapequa, opens this September.

"Financially we can't compete with them," said John Goess, a Seaford Methodist Church trustee and preschool volunteer. "Most of our church's income comes from our preschool…if they take that away we'll be really hurting."

He added that the Town also has the advantage of advertising in a way that a private preschool cannot, posting signs. With the area's proliferation of nursery schools, some wonder if the Town's school is even needed. "We were one of the first preschools in the area and had about 300 to 400 children enrolled," said Goess. "Now we're down to 90, and that's before this new school opens. If anything, the Town should open what's needed, a day-care center, not another preschool." According to the Town, however, they were asked to put in a school by residents. "Many residents asked the Supervisor to open one on the south shore," said Town Spokesperson Marta Kane. "It was a natural progression. We have another school on the north shore, and it is doing well, so we wanted to give the same convenience to parents on the south shore." Some churches have already seen their enrollments decline, however. "We've already lost some students to the program," said Pat McCabe, the Director of the Community Nursery School in Massapequa Park, who said that one reason is that the Town's program is a bit cheaper. "Our five-day program is $1,950, and theirs is about $600 less." According to flyers sent by the Town, the program is $1,260 for three days a week, and $1,600 for five days a week, for both three- and four-year-olds. The preschool, due to open in September, will be housed in a portable classroom until a permanent modular building is set up next to the existing community center on Unqua Road.

According to the Town, officials had originally intended to use the community center for the school, but decided against it after finding out that the building would require too much upgrading. They also did not want to displace any community groups who currently use the space.