PHILLIPSBURG | Eighteen years ago, Michelle Smith was a newly divorced mother with a 2-year-old son and no family to call on for help.

Scared and overwhelmed, Smith said, she had no idea how she would make things work until she stumbled on Phillipsburg's NORWESCAP Preschool Children's Center, 350 Marshall St.

"They were a godsend for me," Smith said.

The preschool program of the Phillipsburg-based Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program provided its last day of service for Smith and others like her Friday -- closing after nearly 40 years in the community.

The Phillipsburg School District informed the organization in late May it would not contract with the preschool's new corporation, Aspiring Minds Learning Center.

NORWESCAP made the move to comply with new regulations from the New Jersey Department of Human Service aimed at avoiding conflicts of interest between child care providers and subsidiary services.

Preschool officials say the change was superficial only and NORWESCAP Executive Director Terry Newhard said officials felt they had found the perfect solution.

"The goal was to keep it going and we had a way to keep it going, but the school didn't want to contract with us," Newhard said. "If they had no alternative -- I get it. But they had a very real alternative."

Phillipsburg School District Superintendent Mark B. Miller explained in June the school district decided not to renew its contract with NORWESCAP Preschool because it no longer existed, viewing Aspiring Minds as a new entity.

Coping with the closing

Standing knee-deep in boxes, Kris Thornton rifled through piles of books as she packed away the contents of her office. A preschool secretary for 14 years, Thornton said she is sorriest for the children who will never experience the preschool's family atmosphere.

"I'm really sad that my son's not going to be coming here," Thornton said of her 16-month-old.

All 16 employees at NORWESCAP Preschool have been forced to look elsewhere for employment.

Teacher assistant Tammy Henry has been a part of the preschool for 20 years.

Despite most of her audience at the school being 3- and 4-year-olds, she said, on more than one occasion a teenager has approached her as "Miss Tammy."

"I'm really going to miss this place," Henry said. "Sometimes I feel OK, but then other times I just have to let myself cry."

Michelle Bess, another teacher assistant, said the reality of the closing seemed distant until days ago.

"It didn't really become real for me till maybe the end of last week," Bess said.

Perhaps one of the hardest things to watch is those children who've finally adjusted to NORWESCAP staff, Bess said.

One boy, she said, took five months before he was comfortable speaking with staff.

New opportunities await

Miller said the district's state-of-the-art Early Childhood Learning Center is prepared to accommodate the 50-plus students headed there Monday.

Six aides and two teachers were brought back to the school following spring's layoffs, and another was promoted from part to full time, Miller said.

Between the various new play areas, gymnasium and media center available to the newcomers, Miller said, the youngsters will have a vast amount of resources at their disposal.

At NORWESCAP, parents often measured the intimacy by the "open-door policy" where they could stop in for lunch or playtime with their kids.

Becki Kirkwood had her son and stepson attend the school and said the most comforting part was being able to check on him at any time of day.

Miller said security is a top priority at the Early Childhood Learning Center, but parents are still more than welcome to volunteer in the classrooms.

"There's a slew of different activities throughout the year that bring parents into the building," he said. "It's a true community school."