Board weighs moving Early Learning Program into school building to improve supervision

Board members and staff held an informational discussion about the Early Learning Program after reports of escalating disruptive behaviors and staffing pressures at the ELP's separate building.

Principal Tim (identified in the meeting) described practical problems when the ELP operates offsite: staff cannot respond in real time, escorts remove adults from classrooms, and there is no private space nearby to de‑escalate young children. "For a student at the ELP, it ... is a long way away because any other classroom response. I have to walk down the street to talk to a kid," Tim said, arguing the distance slows timely responses and affects safety and supervision.

Administrators proposed several options: instituting office hours at the annex to increase on‑site support, repurposing the computer lab inside the school for ELP use, exploring partial‑day schedules paired with licensed aftercare, and communicating expectations to families. The administrator reported consulting the state Office of Public Instruction about whether partial day attendance could still count toward annual enrollment and said Joliet School’s model would be examined for precedent.

Board members raised tradeoffs: moving the ELP into the school could improve supervision but reduce available staff elsewhere; using the computer lab could displace occasional computer classes but was judged feasible if rooms and security were managed. The group also discussed whether the district might rent or repurpose annex space for career/technical or daycare uses if the lab is needed.

No formal motion was made. The board directed staff to gather more information, consider timelines and transportation/child‑care implications, and begin communications with families about options and expected program changes.