It was more than two years ago that Mindy Gillen found what she touts as the perfect site for a preschool program — a small church in Felton on a peaceful corner lot.
But Gillen, also the owner of Scotts Valley Children’s Center, had to fight an uphill battle to open her Quail Hollow Montessori school.
The final approval for the school site took nearly two years, mainly due to neighbor protests. Gillen said that when the project was first approved, neighbors of the site appealed it.
“Some people had traffic concerns, but since the site was a church, there were limited uses for the property, and a school just fit,” Gillen said.
In the end, it worked out to her favor, and Quail Hollow opened up in the beginning of September at 187 Laurel Drive.
“It’s been a long and challenging process,” Gillen admitted. “It was pretty painful for awhile.”
Laurie Hardison, a Laurel Drive neighbor to the school, recalled that some neighbors did not want the school to open because of the possible traffic and noise issues.
“I haven’t noticed any traffic problems,” she said. “Sometimes I hear the kids playing, but it’s not a problem.”
Hardison said she would like to enroll her 3-year-old son at Quail Hollow because it’s close to her home.
The Quail Hollow Montessori program for 3- through 6-year-olds had operated out of a leased space in Ben Lomond, but Gillen wanted to expand her services to provide care and education for infants and toddlers.
Now, the school’s new home boasts post-and-beam ceilings that provide a spacious and airy interior. The space also features hardwood floors throughout the building and redwood trim that makes the rooms feel warm.
The combination of building size and lot size with landscaped yard space and parking is hard to find, Gillen said.
In addition to starting Quail Hollow Montessori and Scotts Valley Children’s Center, Gillen has created the Quest Program, an after-school program for elementary students in the San Lorenzo Valley.
Quail Hollow’s preschool program is full, but the school will accept enrollments for next year, Gillen said. The school’s infant program and a transitional program for 2- and 3-year-olds are also accepting children.
“So far, the year has gone better than expected,” Gillen said. “The location, the facility
— everything’s been going really well, and we’re excited for the students.”
• E-mail reporter Michelle Camerlingo at mi******@pr*********.com, call 438-2500 or post a comment at www.pressbanner.com.
