Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early Learning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District plans to move pre‑K and kindergarten to Mark Denman as early‑learning center
Summary
Superintendent John Hart told the board the district will consolidate pre‑K, kindergarten and birth‑to‑3 programs at Mark Denman Elementary next year, creating space for targeted early learning, special‑education placements and potential transportation savings; discussions with Carl Clinic on lease versus purchase continue.
Superintendent John Hart said the district will relocate its pre‑K, kindergarten and birth‑to‑3 programs to Mark Denman Elementary for the 2026–27 school year to create a consolidated early‑learning center and a transitional kindergarten.
Hart told the board the plan will move roughly 13 classrooms of early‑childhood instruction into Mark Denman and allow the district to pair children with different preschool experience levels in smaller, more focused classrooms. He said the district currently runs preschool under two state grants (Preschool for All and Preschool for All Expansion) that primarily cover salaries and provide little material funding.
The shift will change enrollment projections at several elementary schools. Hart said some buildings’ counts appear inflated by half‑day preschool sessions; moving classrooms will, for example, reduce the number served at Edison while adding capacity at Mark Denman. The district also plans to reorganize special‑education placements: one kindergarten cross‑categorical class and three life‑skills classes will be located at Mark Denman, and other schools will adjust cross‑categorical and life‑skills offerings accordingly.
Hart said the consolidation will also produce operational benefits: more classrooms with restrooms, additional gross‑motor/gym space and a plan for a laundromat‑style room to assist families. He said transportation routes could become more efficient and more fully reimbursable if pre‑K and kindergarten ride the same buses, though some early‑childhood special‑education runs may remain non‑reimbursable.
Hart emphasized the financial effect is secondary to the educational goal but acknowledged some savings: shared specialists (resource teachers, PE/music staffing) and reduced midday routes are expected to reduce costs. He also said the district is in ongoing conversations with Carl Clinic about whether to continue leasing the clinic’s north campus or pursue purchase; no decision has been made.
Board members asked for clarifications on special‑education grade groupings, bus routing and classroom counts; Hart and staff responded with grade‑level breakdowns and reassurances that more details will be provided as plans firm. The board did not take a vote on the restructuring plan at the meeting; Hart said additional steps and detailed implementation plans will follow.
