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Clark schools outline preschool expansion plan; administrator clarifies parent opt-out process for curriculum
Summary
Board and administrators described year two of a state preschool expansion and plans for additional classrooms tied to a bond referendum; during public comment the district clarified how parents may opt students out of specific curricular units and offered to provide curriculum links.
District administrators told the Board of Education the preschool expansion is in its second year of a five-year state program and described near-term steps to add classroom capacity and supports.
"This year, we're in year 2 of the 5 year program," an administrator said, explaining that at the end of five years the district expects to serve any 3- or 4-year-old whose parents want full-day preschool in the district. The administrator said four additional preschool classrooms are currently operating at Arthur L. Johnson High School (ALJ) and that the district plans further classroom capacity tied to the bond referendum and expansion at Henley School.
Officials described interim steps while additional classrooms are established: forming a parent advisory/PTA for preschool, providing professional development (including Orton-Gillingham training), and refining instructional supports so teachers can begin instruction on day one without pushing preschool into a stressful, pre-kindergarten model.
During the public comment period, resident Megan Decker asked for more specifics about the district’s vision and progress toward preschool goals. The administrator reiterated the five-year timeline and the district’s intent to expand capacity and supports.
Another speaker, Bill Draghi, raised concerns about state guidance on teaching transgender and abortion topics and asked how parents may opt students out of such instruction. An administrator replied, "A parent just submits a letter to the building principal and it can be an opt out for an entire unit or even a particular lesson. Just asking to be opt out without any reason or justification required." The administrator also offered to email links to curricular documents available as Google Docs and said the materials do not require downloading.
The transcript does not list specific curriculum materials for the topics raised by the public comment; administrators offered to provide access via email to the district-hosted documents.
The board did not change policy during the meeting on opt-out procedures; administrators described the current operational practice for parents who wish to opt children out of specific instructional units.
