Sarah Nupol, principal of Pershing Early Learning Center, told the Decatur Public School District 61 board on Aug. 19 that the grant-funded preschool and the cooperative early childhood program reopened to about 420 children and that the program has a waitlist of approximately 170 children.

"I have a very long wait list, about a 170 kids who are waiting for spots," Nupol said. She told the board Pershing lacks classroom and gross-motor (gym) space and would need about "6 classrooms and 2 offices" to serve that demand.

Nupol also raised staffing constraints. "For every classroom we opened, we'd need a certified early childhood teacher and 1 to 2 certified paraprofessionals," she said. She explained local pipelines for early-childhood teacher preparation have narrowed as nearby institutions have discontinued early-childhood programs.

Board members discussed options such as using vacant buildings referenced in the district's Roadmap 2030 plan; one board member asked whether the Enterprise building might fit the district's needs. Nupol said she could not assess that and reiterated that staffing — not just space — is the primary obstacle.

Why it matters: Pershing serves 3- and 4-year-olds prior to kindergarten and also hosts the Macon-Piatt Special Education Cooperative's early childhood program. Addressing the waitlist would require both physical classroom space and certified early-childhood staff, which the principal said are in short supply.

No formal action was taken. Board members asked that the topic be considered as part of facilities planning and the Roadmap 2030 process the board intends to reengage this fall.