Board debates preschool options, SLS cut and grant timing as part of budget discussion

The Mountain View Whisman School District board spent significant time Jan. 29 discussing preschool and after‑school programming as part of its broader budget deliberations, reviewing options that would change the mix of part‑day and full‑day California State Preschool Program (CSPP) slots and the district’s exposure to costs.

Director Kemper said the district’s CSPP contract is approximately $2.1 million and that the current preschool configuration costs the district about $695,000 annually to operate in its present form. She described three options presented to the board: maintain the current mix (option A), modify the contract to offer more full‑day classes and reduce the number of classrooms (option C — projected cost neutral using the CSPP contract but requiring California Department of Education approval), and a full‑day extended option (option D) that would increase instructional assistant needs and create enrollment‑documentation challenges for families.

Kemper explained eligibility differences for full‑day state preschool: part‑day enrollment requires meeting one of several eligibility criteria (income eligibility, participation in public assistance, unstable housing, etc.), while full‑day state preschool requires eligibility plus demonstrated need (for example, proof of employment) that can be difficult for families without traditional pay‑stubs to document. “...when you go to full day of state preschool, in addition to meeting one of those eligibility criteria, you also have to prove a need,” she said.

Staff also alerted the board to a same‑day notice of a reduction in a county SLS grant that now offsets roughly $200,000 of district preschool‑related costs; staff said the county reduction will lower that offset by about $93,000 (to roughly $100,000).

Trustees linked preschool decisions to after‑school funding options. Staff said the district applied for additional ACES/Beyond‑the‑Bell funding to expand sites; the state’s notice on those applications is expected around Feb. 15. The district also faces an April 15 deadline if it wants to opt out of mandatory state ELOP/ELAP participation; staff said the board will need to decide whether to rely on potential state funding, expand district‑run after‑school (BTB) programs if ACES awards materialize, or plan for district costs if not.

No final vote on preschool configuration was taken. Trustees directed staff to return with further analysis and to schedule follow‑up discussion in March so the board can act before April 15 if necessary.

Next steps: staff will coordinate with the CDE on any contract modifications, continue outreach to families about eligibility and needs documentation, and return with cost‑neutrality analysis and enrollment modeling.