Aurora mobile preschool stolen and contaminated with fentanyl

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — A bus meant for teaching preschoolers was stolen and contaminated with drug use earlier this month.

You Be You Learning, an Aurora nonprofit mobile preschool and teacher-led cooperative, had one of its vans stolen on March 13. The vehicle was taken from the organization’s normal parking location at Peoria Crossing.

Two days later, Denver Police found it and contacted Roya Brown, the nonprofit’s executive director.

“They did it between 5-6 a.m. and we are grateful that they didn’t do it when the kids were there. It could be worse,” Brown said.

Brown walked FOX31 through the other mobile preschool on Wednesday afternoon, showing why they prefer to be on wheels.

“Here we are with the bus, parked in an apartment. They don’t have transportation barriers, and they just bring their kids and we provide the program for free, so it is totally accessible,” Brown said.

The bus that was stolen is currently being cleaned because of fentanyl, meth and other drug contamination. They are not expected to get the van back until late April or early May.

That cleaning process is just time taken away from the kids. They were fully insured, but some things on the inside, like artwork and materials, cannot be replaced.

“When they graduate from pre-K with us, we keep in touch with parents and with families and with the students,” said Javier Lastres, associate director. “We keep the long conversations, because for us, education doesn’t stop when the student leaves the classroom. We build community with these families, and they are a part of our lives.”

You Be You Learning recently purchased an additional bus, and they are looking for another underserved area in Aurora to help. They are also looking for suggestions from the community.

For information on how to contact them or make a donation to their organization, visit their website here .

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