Barbara Vick Early Childhood & Family Center

Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag at Barbara Vick. On one hand, the recent news about the multimillion-dollar capital investment and expansion for the Beverly location is great because the current building definitely feels its age and the ventilation could be way better, especially during flu season. The school is decent about sending home notices when something like hand, foot, and mouth is going around, but because it's a CPS preschool, it feels like they are constantly stretched thin. My main gripe is that the sick-child policy feels a little inconsistent depending on who is at the front desk that day. It's an okay spot, and the staff really cares, but I’m hoping the upcoming renovations actually address the crowded classrooms and old fixtures rather than just adding more seats.

Honestly, keeping preschoolers healthy is like a full-time job, but Barbara Vick does a pretty solid job with it. The classrooms always seem really clean when I drop off my daughter, and they’re super strict about the '24-hour symptom-free' rule which can be a pain for working parents but definitely keeps the stomach bugs from spreading like wildfire through the class. I also really appreciate that they focus on the social-emotional side of wellness too, not just the physical stuff. My only tiny gripe is that communication about local RSV or flu spikes could be a bit faster, but overall I feel safe sending her there every morning.