West Geauga presents plan to open preschool classroom at Westwood Elementary

West Geauga Local School District staff presented a plan to open a center‑based preschool at Westwood Elementary that would operate two half‑day classes (AM and PM), serving up to 32 children (16 per class).

Dr. Amy Davis, introduced during the meeting as a district leader and long‑time educator, said the proposal would bring early learners to campus alongside K–2 students, easing transitions to kindergarten and enabling cross‑disciplinary work with other grade‑level teachers. The district would house related services and provide staffing, with the planned classroom supported by one intervention‑specialist teacher and one paraprofessional.

Program details and costs: The preschool would use state‑approved curricula (current practice uses AEPS-3; staff also proposed Foundations and Heggerty to align with the district’s science of reading work). Students identified with special needs would not pay tuition; “peer model” students (typically developing children who serve as classroom peers) would pay tuition. Dr. Davis said the district already houses some related‑services staff but would need consultant fees to move Step Up To Quality licensing to the Westwood location, plus some furniture, supplies, fencing and playground updates to meet licensing and safety standards.

Eligibility and enrollment: The proposal intends first to move existing half‑day students currently at an external center (Metzenbaum) to the Westwood site. The proposed selection for peer models would be time‑stamped online (similar to open enrollment) rather than first‑come, first‑served; students with identified special needs would not be subjected to that selection process.

Timeline and next steps: Dr. Davis said the district would need to start Step Up To Quality preparation and community notification immediately after board approval to allow registration and staffing. The board asked questions about staffing, transferability of equipment and whether three‑ and four‑year‑olds would be combined (Dr. Davis said threes and fours would be together). Board discussion indicated support for the concept and follow‑up work on licensing, training, and building upgrades.

No final funding appropriation was recorded in the meeting; the board heard the presentation and asked follow‑up questions. The proposal’s next steps include detailed cost estimates for licensing and facility upgrades, timelines for Step Up To Quality rating, and a staffing plan if the board elects to approve implementation.