Winchester to apply for 16 early-start preschool seats; district explores preschool expansion tied to reimbursement

The Winchester Board of Education discussed preschool expansion and a near-term grant application during its Dec. 9 meeting.

Superintendent Louie said the district has plans to apply for an early start grant to fund 16 preschool seats, with an application due next week. “It's our intention to put in for 16 early start seats,” Louie said, noting the grant covers half of the current year and all of next and that approval would allow the district to shift staffing and open seats for community families.

Board members explored whether an addition or reconfiguration at Pearson could be structured so portions of any capital work would qualify for higher reimbursement. Louie explained the state requires that reimbursement be tied to the physical location where the children will attend; moving preschool seats from Hinsdale to Pearson could make some work 100% reimbursable, but other roof areas would remain at the 70% rate. “What if we said we were moving kids from Hinsdale so we had to do an addition at Pearson… the state said, 'No, wherever you're getting that reimbursement has to be where the kids will attend,'” Louie said.

The district emphasized the grant application timeline and the need to finalize logistics quickly if award notification arrives in January. Louie said the district’s strategy would be to focus primarily on four-year-old seats while leaving three-year-old services to existing providers to avoid displacing local childcare businesses.

If the grant and any related capital questions move forward, the board would return with specific referendum language or budget proposals for voter consideration.