Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early Childhood topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Conestoga Valley outlines plan to absorb state Pre-K Counts slots; district says move is budget-neutral
Summary
District presenters described a plan to bring three partner-run Pre-K Counts classrooms under district administration, estimating an $840,000 state-funded allocation covering four classrooms and noting teachers would join the districts bargaining unit; final launch awaits Office of Child Development & Early Learning approval.
Conestoga Valley staff told the board on April 22 they have submitted a Pre-K Counts application that would shift three partner-run classrooms into district administration and keep the program budget-neutral.
Presenters said the change stems from partner organizations (Steps to Success and Lancaster Mennonite School) altering how they run pre-K, creating an opportunity for the district to administer funding directly for classrooms at Brownstown, Fritz and Loyola (and Smoketown partner arrangements). The presenters told the board the Per-Child Pre-K Counts allocation is $10,500 and that the district would receive approximately $840,000 for Conestoga Valley across four classrooms.
Officials said the grant is a state program (Pre-K Counts administered through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, OCTEL) and not federal funding. They said the program requires a regular school calendar (180 days) and health screenings (hearing, physical, dental) that the district can deliver through partnerships and community providers. If approved, teachers would become district professional staff under the collective-bargaining agreement and pre-K students would be rostered in district enrollment and transportation systems.
Board members asked about program eligibility, wait lists and what happens to three- and four-year-olds who age out; presenters said homeless students are admitted immediately and families continue to be supported with transportation and services. The presenters stressed they built a budget-neutral proposal and worked with nursing, food service and transportation to limit impact on the general fund.
Administration said the application is currently with OCTEL and will proceed only after state approval; logistics (roster, staffing, supervision, small food-service and supervision tweaks) would follow approval.
The board requested staff to keep the board informed and said they would review the program details once OCTEL responds.
