Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early Childhood Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bolivar R‑I spotlights early childhood center’s calming centers, high attendance and transportation use
Summary
The district’s Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) reported strong early attendance, widespread use of school transportation, and new classroom calming centers funded by the PTA.
The Bolivar R‑I Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) reported high early‑year attendance, broad use of district transportation and described a new classroom calming program funded by the PTA.
Sarah Cooper, principal of the ECLC, told the Board of Education the center serves 118 half‑day pre‑K students, 19 full‑day pre‑K students, seven early childhood special education students and about 30 children aged 6 weeks to 5 years in other programs, for a total enrollment figure the presentation listed as 166 students. Cooper said roughly 63% of those students use school‑provided transportation. The ECLC reported serving about 75 breakfasts and 60 lunches daily.
Cooper described a nine‑step “active calming center” installed in each classroom through PTA fundraising. She said the centers guide children from large motor activities (stomping, pushing) to fine motor and tactile tasks while practicing breathing techniques so students “can ground themselves, be calm, and be ready for learning.” Cooper said teachers use the centers proactively; students typically self‑select the calming space and staff will direct use when needed.
Cooper also highlighted school‑readiness routines and early progress: the center’s average daily attendance early in the year was reported at 95.87%. The ECLC uses a standard operating procedure in which staff call families when a child misses two consecutive days without notification to check on barriers such as illness or transportation challenges.
Upcoming ECLC events Cooper listed include a fall fundraiser, parent‑teacher conferences in October, a picture retake day in late October and a drive‑through trunk‑or‑treat on Oct. 30.
Questions from board members focused on program eligibility. Cooper explained half‑day pre‑K classrooms have a 20‑student cap and full‑day pre‑K is reserved for students who meet qualifications, including an IEP for certain full‑day placements; Cooper said full‑day settings intentionally have smaller groups to support targeted instruction.
The board’s packet and Cooper’s presentation include the ECLC enrollment and operational details shared at the meeting.
