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Board hears proposal to expand intensive preschool; district cites high outside costs as motivation
Summary
District staff proposed moving an intensive METS preschool toward a full‑day in‑district program for next year, estimating the current outside cost per METS student at nearly $50,000 and projecting in‑district staffing costs of roughly $209,000–$245,000 for a classroom configuration (one teacher, two paraprofessionals) with capacity for about 15.
District administrators presented a plan at the Nov. 11 West Geauga board meeting to expand the intensive METS preschool program and transition to a full‑day in‑district classroom in the 2026 school year. The presentation emphasized both educational and fiscal reasons for the shift.
Jen Norman said the district currently runs two half‑day preschool programs integrated at the Westwood building and is planning to move more intensive students into a full‑day model next year to provide earlier intervention and create long‑term cost savings. "Right now, we're looking at almost $50,000 a student, for the students to attend the METS program," Norman said, noting that outside residential or contracted services can be expensive.
Norman described a prospective classroom staffed by one teacher and two paraprofessionals with capacity to accommodate up to about 15 students without adding another teacher. She presented a staffing cost range for next year — stated in the meeting as roughly $209,200 up to $245,162 — and said the district will refine figures as individual student needs and benefit years of service are confirmed.
Board members asked clarifying questions about enrollment thresholds and how students transition from Help Me Grow services into school‑age services; Norman said the district offers center‑based and peer‑based models and expected some students to require less intensive itinerant services. The superintendent and board thanked preschool staff and noted the district is pursuing 'gold step up to quality' rating standards for the program.
No formal vote was required; administrators said they will return with refined budget estimates and implementation steps as part of future planning.
