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Hartland reports expansion of GSRP preschools and plans Building 51 space for classrooms
Summary
District leaders told the board Hartland’s Great Start Readiness Program now serves seven classrooms, enrolls about 124 four‑year‑olds, and will expand into the district-owned Building 51; staff said other early care programs will continue at the district but some programs may relocate as space is reassigned.
Hartland Consolidated Schools officials updated the board Oct. 20 on the district’s early‑childhood programs, saying the district now operates seven Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) classrooms and more than 400 total children and families across multiple programs.
Jessica Passienza, director of the district early‑childhood program, told the board the district operates year‑round childcare, a three‑year‑old preschool, latchkey, seven GSRP classrooms (124 students currently enrolled), and a school‑age summer camp. ‘‘We are in operation 12 hours a day…we are still pretty busy,’’ she said.
Why this matters: GSRP is Michigan’s state‑funded preschool program for qualifying four‑year‑olds. District staff said GSRP classrooms are running full and some are waitlisted; the district recently joined the Livingston County Early Childhood Collaborative to support access.
Building 51 and program logistics: Superintendent Mr. Hughes told the board that as the district transitions Building 51 to house 11 full GSRP classrooms, staff who currently provide some early‑care services at other district locations may need to relocate. The board was told the district has invested in Building 51 upgrades (HVAC, roof, carpet, windows) to ready it for classroom use. Hughes emphasized the district intends to continue early latchkey services but that physical space will determine program placement.
Family supports, assessments and operations: Passienza described curricula and assessments used in the program — Creative Curriculum and TS Gold for preschool, ASQ‑3 for infants and toddlers — and said the preschool uses developmentally appropriate, play‑based, study‑inspired lessons. She said conference schedules, parent‑volunteer opportunities and family events are in place and that most full‑day GSRP classes are waitlisted.
Board members asked about tuition and funding; Passienza said tuition funds wraparound childcare and latchkey while GSRP funding comes from the state. A board member asked whether state funding provides low‑income tuition support; Passienza said the state provides funding for GSRP but the district does not currently maintain a separate low‑income tuition subsidy beyond GSRP allocations.
Provenance: Reporting on GSRP enrollment, program structure and Building 51 began with Passienza’s presentation of program elements (transcript block starting at 854.995) and concluded with superintendent remarks about Building 51’s planned use and recent investments (transcript block starting at 1275.505).
