Preschool changes a go at Perkins County schools; tuition is waived
By Becky Uehling
Grant Tribune-Sentinel
Perkins County Schools Board has approved the restructuring of its preschool to include 4 and 5-year-olds only and eliminate preschool for 3-year-olds, along with making the program free for all students. The final decision was made at the Board’s Monday, March 20 meeting.
During its Feb. 20 meeting, the Board heard the request for the program’s changes from PC Preschool teacher Brandie Ross and School Psychologist Shalee Pollard. The women wanted the change for two reason, 1) to eliminate the large developmental gap that is present between 3-year-olds and 4 and 5-year-olds, and 2) to prevent the aging out of 5-year-olds who could use additional, or transitional, schooling before going to kindergarten.
The new preschool setup will now take all 4 year-olds in the morning, with the afternoon consisting of 5-year-olds and then filled in with older 4-year-olds, Ross said.
Because of state law, the class with the 5-year-olds will be renamed as a transitional kindergarten class instead of preschool, with the 5-year-olds being enrolled as kindergartners, she said. Children who turn 5 between Jan. 1 and July 31st would be eligible for the transitional program.
As far as the school is aware, PCS is the only preschool in Grant and Perkins County, with the Perkins County Hospital’s preschool closing approximately two years ago, Ross said.
Ross encourages those with 3-year-olds to look to other community services such as the library program, family nights at the school and ESU Child Find events to help their child prepare for school.
Other Business
Other School Board business on March 20 included the following:
• The board heard from Superintendent Phillip Picquet on a error that occurred with the company that makes stage curtains for the school, with the company inadvertently making curtains for the wrong stage.
“The wrong specs were pulled from their files and curtains for the Multiple Purpose Room at the high school were made instead of for the Pritchett gym,” Picquet said. “Both sets of curtains need to be replaced due to age and use, but we had designated the Pritchett gym as the first priority.”
The board went ahead and purchased the curtains for both gyms, with the company giving the school a discount because of the error.
• Picquet discussed gym floor repainting and resurfacing with the board, along with the potential funding sources to offset the work.
“Conversations have centered around advertising within the gym and live streaming to help off set the costs (of the gym’s upkeep),” he said. “This would also provide an avenue for businesses to advertise and a way for us to recognize those who supported the resurfacing.”