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Jefferson School District to shift 4K classrooms to Early Learning Center, expand Head Start partnership
Summary
District staff told the board that 4K classes will be based at the Jefferson Early Learning Center (East) and remain at Sullivan for 2024-25, with AM and PM sessions, a Head Start partner classroom for full-day options, and enrollment rising to 82 for next year.
Missus Volk, a 4K presenter for the Jefferson School District, told the board the district will move primary 4K classrooms to the Jefferson Early Learning Center at East while retaining a 4K site at Sullivan for the 2024-25 school year.
"We are moving over to in town 1 Jefferson Early Learning Center, and that's gonna be at East. And that's gonna have AM and PM classrooms, and then we'll still have our 4 k at Sullivan," Missus Volk said. She described AM sessions running 8 to 11:10 a.m. and PM sessions from 11:50 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
The change follows a decision to right-size offerings after lower enrollment this year and to partner with Head Start so families can access full-day options at the East center. "We will still offer the option of that full day programming through a partnership with Head Start, and Head Start will have a classroom at the Jefferson Learning Center, which is at East," Missus Volk said.
District staff outlined how placements will be distributed across classrooms to avoid concentrating Head Start-eligible students in a single class. Missus Volk said enrollment rose from the mid-70s during the year to 82 students currently projected for next year: "I'm happy to report that today, we're at 82 enrolled for next year." She estimated the district—s 4K capacity target is about 90 students and that sections at East and Sullivan will fill.
Other operational changes described to the board included assigning three high-quality 4K teachers across the sites, moving paraprofessional schedules to Monday through Thursday to maintain the district—s 18-to-2 staffing ratio, maintaining a free shuttle to licensed day cares inside district boundaries, and continuing wrap-around care through Kids Space at parent expense.
On curriculum and assessment, Missus Volk said the district will keep a play-based creative curriculum, maintain daily interest-area play, use Jolly Phonics and a four-day shared reading plan, and has shifted literacy screening to FastBridge pending state decisions. She also noted the 4K team is using NextPath as the district—s data warehouse for formative assessment data.
Board members asked clarifying questions about section counts and how many enrolled students qualify for Head Start; Missus Volk estimated roughly 20—to—21 Head Start-eligible students among those enrolled and described plans to distribute placements across classrooms.
The board did not take formal action on the 4K plan during the meeting; the presentation served to inform the 2024-25 operational setup and staffing.
