About 70 supporters of Bow’s Celebrating Children preschool got the vote they had hoped for, as the Bow Board of Selectmen unanimously decided to keep it a town program.

The 5-0 vote during the Wednesday, Nov. 28, meeting assured Celebrating Children will not be asked to become a private group.

To cut the budget, board members were looking at a variety of programs, and had considered asking Celebrating Children to become a private school.

Currently, the program is run through the town’s Recreation Department, though it is financially self-supportive.

The program costs Bow $350 per year to be put on the town’s insurance, but also makes $2,900 annually that is placed into the town’s general fund.

Two main concerns that had been raised about the program involved any liability the town may be faced with because of Celebrating Children, and whether it was fair for Bow to provide the school with a free venue while there are other private preschool options in town.

Celebrating Children uses the Bow Municipal Building free of charge.

Colleen Hunter and Cindy Greenwood Young, co-directors of Celebrating Children, presented arguments to the board on behalf of the school, followed by testimonial from about 20 residents in attendance, many of whom stood or sat on the floor in packed room.

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. This program serves the needs of the community and school system in the long term,” said Marie Daniels, who serves Bow High School as the school pyschologist. “These women are our first line of defense in identifying kids and getting services so we don’t suck the resources of the school system dry.”

Hunter spoke of not only the education the program gives the children in the classroom, but also a different sort of learning.

“It’s able to give these children a sense of community at a young age,” she said. “It’s so important to be part of the community. We are the people of Bow, and we want that for our children as well.”

The preschool serves 32 children age 3 to 5, and in most of its 11 years in existence there has been a waiting list for the program, which is made up of almost all Bow residents.

Many parents spoke of the program’s ability to work closely with children of special needs, and help them be successful in the classroom.

A group of three children, now in fourth grade, who were adopted internationally, spoke to the board about how the preschool helped them overcome the challenges they had.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Leon Kenison said board members appreciate what the school does, though it is their duty to look into a variety of different programs in town to try and save money.

Kenison also had a message for the large crowd. “I want to be clear that it is just as important to attend budget and town meetings, but I didn’t see many of you in May. It’s important for you to show the same enthusiasm then, not just when a program is in jeopardy,” he said.