Bourne schools to pilot expanded pre‑K with Champions KinderCare partnership

Bourne school officials outlined a multi‑part plan to expand pre‑K opportunities in the district and described a one‑year pilot partnership with Champions KinderCare to provide licensed pre‑K and wraparound before‑ and after‑school care.

Superintendent Doctor Joe and administrators described four strands to the expansion, including adding an integrated pre‑K classroom for special‑education students and a community partner model. "An integrated pre‑K is really a special education program…we bring in peer models," said Mr. Donahue, who summarized the district’s model for serving IEP goals alongside typically developing peers.

Caitlin Grant, area manager for Champions, said the organization would run morning and afternoon pre‑K sessions and offer additional wraparound care so families can access full‑day options. "This is a pilot year. It's a one year agreement that will either be a license or lease," Grant said, and added Champions is licensed through the Department of Early Education and Care and can accept state subsidy vouchers.

Champions supplied current enrollment figures to show demand: the program averaged about 17 children in morning sessions and roughly 23 in the afternoon at the district sites this year, Grant said, and the provider expects to increase capacity for the fall. She also described plans for a secure drop‑off door and an operations manual that will define times and routines.

District leaders emphasized the arrangement is a partnership and that final legal review will determine whether the contract is a license or a lease. No formal vote on the Champions contract occurred at the meeting; administrators said they would return with the finalized document for committee consideration.

The committee’s next step is continued operational planning and legal review; administrators plan additional workshops this summer to finalize documents and timelines for implementation.