District 7 outlines plan to convert ASB into districtwide pre‑K center
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Summary
District 7 staff proposed converting the ASB building into an ASB Pre‑K Center to consolidate preschool services, address a roughly 100‑child wait list and use space freed when fifth graders return to elementary schools after Sloane opens in fall 26; the plan includes pursuing Head Start funding and using CTE students for classroom support.
District 7 staff on a recent visit to the ASB building proposed converting the site into a districtwide pre‑K center that would consolidate preschool classrooms, integrate special‑education preschool services and expand seats for families on waiting lists.
A district staff member said the idea grows out of space that will open when fifth graders move back to elementary schools after Sloane opens in fall 26. "So them going back into the elementary schools... that leaves a minus 475, let's just say 500, minus 500 space here at Central Campus," the staff member said, and added that the district could repurpose that space for preschoolers.
Kenzie Brown, identified in the presentation as District 7's CTE director and pre‑K director, said the ASB building offers small breakout rooms and other features suited to preschool instruction and special‑education (ECSE) needs. "Early childhood education is so needed in our community," Brown said, noting that Williams County is filling only about 19% of local early‑childhood and daycare demand.
The plan would centralize the district's preschool offerings — currently spread across sites including Bakken and Lewis and Clark Elementary — into one ASB Pre‑K Center so children can be grouped with same‑age peers and receive services in a single building. Brown said ECSE preschool students would be integrated into Future Coyotes classrooms to allow access to specialized screenings and curriculum and to create peer buddies and collaborative instruction.
Staff also described two funding and operational avenues: applying for a Head Start grant to restore federal‑funded Head Start services in the area, and creating a staff‑run daycare that could be tied to career‑technical education (CTE) pathways. Brown said the district recently launched an education pathway in CTE; students in the pathway can gain work‑based learning experience as classroom paraprofessionals while earning class credit.
The staff member said American State Bank has offered private support and donated $500,000; district staff met with ASB representatives Dave Hanson and Pat Sogard, who the staff member said "think it is an amazing idea." The proposed facility name is the ASB Pre‑K Center.
District staff said roughly 100 children were on preschool waiting lists this fall and that consolidating programs at ASB would allow the district to serve more preschoolers and provide earlier interventions so children start kindergarten better prepared. The presenters invited community input and said they will accept questions by phone or email as the idea is developed.
The proposal is at a planning stage: staff described options and potential funding sources but did not present a formal motion or timeline for approval. Next steps described were community feedback and continued planning around grant applications and program design.