Young families may have some new options in the 2021-22 school year as the West Liberty Community School District looks at the possibility of adding programming for three-year-olds and four-year-olds may be going to school a full day.
Dr. Lindsey Meeker, Director of the Early Learning Center at West Liberty, made a presentation to the school board of education Monday, March 1, unveiling initial programming for the two intertwined programs that will include bilingual learning of English and Spanish.
Dr. Meeker said, however, that a survey of families that could participate in the Iowa Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) but noted it has not yet been fully completed and changes in the program will depend on funding, participation and the ability to find teachers and instructors.
The district is hoping to cut costs in the current four-year-old program that has been around about eight years and is costing the district approximately $130,000 annually, although there have been years, like 2016, when that cost nearly doubled due to an increased amount of students in the program, the district forced to hire more teachers.
Both Dr. Meeker and Superintendent Dr. Diego Giraldo said keeping an early learning component in the school system is one of the keys to offering top education in the district.
“This is amazing,” said Dr. Giraldo, pointing out the community is on the forefront of offering something very special for students and families.
Dr. Meeker explained that four-year-old full-day pre-school could begin as early as 7:30 a.m. with breakfast before learning begins in creative curriculum and early literacy and math for the next 90 minutes until 9:30 a.m. For the next 90 minutes, youngsters may have outdoor play using gross motor skills and finding interest areas. There will also be Spanish read-aloud sessions with a teacher.
Lunch and recess takes place from 11 a.m. to noon before there is more creative curriculum to follow, finding interest areas and targeted small group learning.
Beginning at 1:30 for an hour, the students would be allowed to nap and have a snack, with a wrap-up of the day to follow for 15 minutes before students pack-up to leave by 3 p.m.
Meeker said the schedule is not finalized and may need some revisions.
She said Head Start qualified teachers currently in the system would receive special training over the summer in Creative Curriclum, Second Step and Bilingual Early Childhood pedagogy to adapt to the new programs.
With the new programming plan, all students would receive exploratory Spanish in pre-school.
Dr. Meeker said numbers are down this year at the Early Learning Center, pointing out many parents may have elected not to send their child to the pre-school programs because of COVID-19. She said those parents will still have to send their five-year-old to Kindergarten next school year, but may have missed out on some valuable learning skills by not attending classes this year. She said pre-K is considered a kindergarten classroom according to the Department of Education, but noted it is provided at a “slower pace.” Pre-K students are evaluated at the end of the school year to determine if they might advance to kindergarten or even first grade.
The director said 55 youngsters have already been registered for pre-school next year and she anticipates many more, noting it is very early in the process.
She said parents currently pay $280 a month to attend all-day pre-school in West Liberty. The district gets $320 per month per child in the Head Start program. Meeker said the parental pay may have to increase in order to help fund the program, although the three-year-old program may be funded through new state and federal programs while the four-year-old program is hoping for an increase in state funding as well, now in legislation.
Dr. Meeker estimated the program may need as much as $350 to $380 monthly in parental support.
She estimated the four-year-old program could see a savings of as much as $70,000 the first year. She said while the district wants to do their best in providing top notch education for young members of the community, she said the schools also have to be “fiscally responsible” in providing those educational opportunities.
Abby Ortiz, the school’s business manager, told the board fixing the four-year-old class program deficit won’t happen overnight, noting it’s not going to be a one-year fix-all.”
Dr. Meeker praised her teachers for their dedication and hard work, noting she was “really proud of the program” even though it had to be “pivoted down” because of the Coronavirus. “We believe in early learning,” she added.
A special question and answer session was to be held Tuesday, March 9, regarding the three and four year old pre-school programs but Dr. Meeker said anyone who cannot attend is welcome to talk to her by calling the school.