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District Reports UPK Enrollment and Praises Putnam County Early Learning Center Progress
Summary
Superintendent reported 120 of 188 UPK slots are filled and described new local providers; the Putnam County Early Learning Center construction is expected to begin at 40 John Barrett Road, with contingency plans if not ready for school start.
Superintendent Dr. Fariben briefed trustees on universal pre-K (UPK) enrollment and local provider partnerships during the June 10 meeting.
She said 120 students are currently registered for the district’s UPK program, which can accommodate up to 188 slots funded through a New York State Education Department grant. The district has added local providers (Creative Kids preschool in Kent and Brewster, Kids Cottage in Carmel, and the Putnam County Early Learning Center) and reported families were accommodated when capacity issues arose.
Dr. Fariben described the Putnam County Early Learning Center (to be located at 40 John Barrett Road in the Inter Arts Building) as an inclusive facility for students with and without disabilities. She said construction is slated to start soon and that the district has contingency plans to host classes in other spaces if the building is not completed by the start of school. She noted the UPK final report is due July 31 and applications for available funds (noted as $1,025,000) close August 29.
The superintendent also previewed a dual-language kindergarten pilot (one Spanish-English class each at Matthew Patterson and Kent Primary) and said more than 70 families expressed interest. The board scheduled an information night for the program on June 17.
Next steps: finalize UPK provider arrangements, submit the final UPK report by July 31, and process applications for available funds by August 29.
