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Board hears plan to expand preschool seats; administrators say ISD grants and rental arrangements shape funding
Summary
Staff said Monroe currently has 24 preschool classrooms (22 funded through the ISD and two district-run) and proposed increasing capacity to 35 over several years; administrators warned that bringing preschool fully into district control would change how grant dollars and rental revenue flow.
Administrators explained how preschool expansion would work under the proposal and how funding currently flows through the intermediate school district (ISD). Dr. Behrends said the ISD administers state and federal preschool grants (GSRP, Head Start) and rents space from Monroe Public Schools; that arrangement provides rental revenue to the district's general fund but also means program rules and licensing remain under the ISD.
"Right now, we have 24 preschool classrooms," Dr. Behrends said, and staff proposed expanding that number to 35 in the long term, acknowledging the increase would take years rather than happen in a single school year. He said moving preschool entirely under the district would require adhering to grant rules and could eliminate the current rental revenue stream tied to ISD-operated programs.
Board members asked whether the proposal would require hiring additional instructors; staff estimated the ISD would need to hire about 10 more teachers if the plan ultimately grew to 35 classrooms. Administrators said the first year might add one classroom and that expansion would be driven by demonstrated community need and grant eligibility.
The board asked staff to supply comparison data from neighboring districts that use similar grade configurations and to provide more detail on fiscal impacts before any formal vote.
