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June
7, 1987 had all the characteristics of a day of infamy for the future owners of
First School of the Desert, Mark and Dorothy Hastings. It was on this day that
Dorothy Hastings became the victim of city budget cuts and was laid off from her
position as Palm Springs Tiny Tot's Director. This ostensibly negative setback
would have remained merely an insignificant personal dilemma, important to only
the Hastings, had it not been for the entrepreneurial spirit of this young
couple. With the bitter taste of job insecurity lingering and the loss of half
the family income the Hastings decided to invest their energies in the one thing
they knew best...themselves. Coupling Dorothy's Early Childhood Education
background and Mark's education, General Contracting and Business skills the
Hastings embarked upon the creation of First School of the Desert, a state of
the art preschool and child care center. Authentic
Early Childhood Education requires a classroom peer group approach to
instruction. The Hastings could not find any existing commercial space or
residential structure offering the schematic layout optimum for preschool
education. Since quality is an intrinsic characteristic of the First School
concept new construction was the only approach acceptable to the Hastings.
Without so much as a hint of financial commitment from a conventional lender the
Hastings dove headfirst into process of site acquisition and architectural
drawings. With a building layout and a business plan in hand the Hastings began
the difficult journey of securing capital for their First School dream. It was not long before the Hastings learned that buildings designed for a single use and childcare were not popular among lenders. Although comprehensive demographic studies reveled a strong demand for childcare the haunting stigma of the infamous McMartin Preschool trial impaired the lenders vision of the Hastings proposed project. The venture was repeatedly rejected by conventional lenders due to the misimpression of an unacceptably high risk factor associated with childcare. It became clear to the Hastings that they must eliminate the lender's distortion of the risk factor and alleviate the concerns about the single use purpose of the building. Far from being defeated the Hastings began the search for a solution to this predicament.
Turning to the Small Business Administration the Hastings learned about SBA programs designed to promote small business. A device called the SBA 7-A Program provides qualifying applicants a loan guarantee of up to 80 percent of the total loan value. Lending institutions participating in this program would only be exposed to a minimum loan risk. By eliminating the risk associated with small business failure the SBA offered the Hastings a mechanism to overcome the obstacle obstructing the way to loan approval After designing a backup floor plan for an alternative building use the Hastings applied for and were approved for the SBA loan guarantee. SBA endorsements do not come easy. The 90-day loan guarantee process generated a mountain of paperwork. Although the Hastings secured the guarantee they learned SBA loans are not for the meek. With
a loan finally secured the Hastings broke ground on their Palm Springs First
School on October 15, 1987. With Mark Hastings laboring as General Contractor
construction of the building finished two weeks ahead of schedule with classes
beginning on February 22, 1988. On opening day First School of the Desert's
enrollment was over 75 percent filled. Because the Hastings had actively
pre-enrolled students during the course of construction First School generated a
positive cash flow from the first day of operation. In September of 1988, First School experienced total enrollment and maintained a lengthy waiting list. Many of First School's clients resided in Cathedral City and it became apparent to the Hastings that this city was the next logical site for a First School expansion. Mark went back to school, acquired additional secondary units in education and made a career change in order to pursue childcare exclusively as a profession. Two years after the successful opening of the Palm Springs First School the Hastings finished construction of their Cathedral City First School. Ten years after that the Hastings ventured out to La Quinta and built their largest facility licensed for 145 children.
The First School formula of quality academic preschool instruction provided
within the secure and stimulating confines of the school building has produced
over 20 years of business success for the Hastings. The First School approach to
preschool education and childcare has always relied on an educated and
experienced staff utilizing exceptional communication skills. A
Consumer Focused Company "Consumer
Focused" could be a catchall description of the First School program. First
School is a total service oriented business producing no tangible goods. The
caliber of First School can only be measured by the goodwill of its reputation.
Consumer Focus is more than a nice idea...it is a critical component of the
First School business formula. First
School has established a number of consumer focus programs designed to provide
its clients with superior service. First School clients benefit from a heavy
emphasis on staff communication. School families have unconditioned access to
school staff from the moment they set foot on the campus to the time they
depart. All First School teachers have received detailed instruction on the
significance of advising parents on the accomplishments and or needs of their
children. Through effective staff communication First School can actually
transcend the boundaries of its facility by way parent facilitation of its
programs in the home. The First School childcare philosophy focuses on the
health and safety of the family unit rather than merely the child. First School
offers childcare and preschool education for children...it offers leadership and
support for the family. First
School advanced the concept of minor injury and unacceptable behavior
reports. By documenting each minor scrape, bump or cut in a bound and written
format parents are informed at the end of the day as to what type of minor
injury occurred, when it occurred, where it occurred, and how it was treated by
the First School staff. Unacceptable behavior is handled in the same manner.
Each report is intended to instill client confidence through
communication. Through this simple discipline First School is able to include
working parents into the school lives of their children...once again
transcending the physical limits of school and work.
First School's customer focus does not stop at its front doors. For the past
20 years
First School has sponsored pediatric CPR classes for its clientele. First School
parents receive professional CPR training along with the First School staff.
Parenting classes conducted by family psychologists and therapists have been
held at all three First School facilities. Classes offering professional instruction
in First Aid, Earthquake Preparedness, and Child Abuse Awareness are routinely
offered at one or both First School facilities. In addition to addressing the
seriousness of parenting and safety skills First School offers many social
avenues to its families. Family picnics, holiday get-togethers, open house
gatherings, graduation ceremonies, Mother and Father Day Teas are just a few of
the ways First School families can broaden their social circle of friends. First
School owners Mark and Dorothy Hastings have been have been selected by their
state licensing department (Department of Social Services, Community Care
Licensing) to represent the Coachella Valley private child care owner
perspective on a quarterly scheduled problem solving forum. This is more than a
complementary honor. The Hastings appointment is a merit selection based on
First School's impeccable record and strict adherence to California State law. First
School has built its childcare service on a foundation of communication and
dedication to families. The continuation of this quality customer focused
service and the resulting positive effect in the community is the never-ending
goal of First School. Fulfilling
Community Responsibility Approximately
80 percent of First School's clientele is double income or single parent
families. All of these parents need childcare in order to earn an income or
acquire an education. With the piece of mind that their child is in a safe and
learning environment, literally hundreds upon hundreds of parents have been
supported in their efforts to prosper. For
parents not living in the First School district, First School assists families
with inter-district transfers. The district transfers allow these non-district
families entrance into the neighboring elementary school. The elementary school
program coupled with First School's childcare gives these parents the security
of full time childcare. First
School owners Dorothy and Mark Hastings have embraced the responsibility of
providing for the less fortunate. With no motivation other than to help good and
needy families the Hastings provide child care scholarships to selected families
on a ongoing and confidential level Many good families have and continue to
enjoy the benefits of this private First School scholarship program. The
facilities of First School have served as a meeting place for community groups
in need of an assembly room. The Story Book Tellers used the Cathedral
City First School facility rent free for over a year. First Aid and CPR
instructors in need of a classroom for a weekend frequently rely on First School
for space. First School endorses community responsibility and shares in its
community pride. The
economic impact of First School is far reaching. In addition to the community
support this quality childcare center provides local residents, it supports a
staff of over 45 employees. First School employees are all area residents
investing their wages into the local economy. The
First School program purchases all of its operating goods from local wholesalers
and retailers. Well over a half a million dollars a year is injected into the
local economy by way of First School. No
longer can most couples rely on one income to support a family. Young families
require childcare in order to achieve financial growth. Children require quality
early childhood education to succeed in elementary school and beyond.
First School provides an outstanding blend of both services. Financial
growth is a necessary element of an economically sound community. First School
provides an answer to parents and communities in need of quality preschool.
Through support of the family unit First School of the Desert continues to grow
as valuable community amenity.
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