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Bear Cub Preschool reports enrollment jump, pilots Kickstart Literacy
Summary
Preschool staff told the board enrollment rose to 215 from about 177, described integrated curricula and partnerships, and said they will pilot Kickstart Literacy in October to strengthen early reading skills.
Preschool leaders presented a continuous-improvement overview of the Bear Cub Preschool program at the board meeting, reporting enrollment growth, staffing and curriculum plans.
The presenter said preschool enrollment rose from about 177 to 215 and that the program operates 11 classrooms with 15 certified teachers; the district also supports birth-to-3 slots through the Sixpence program and partners with ESU 13, Head Start and the YMCA to expand access. Evelyn Andrews described the Creative Curriculum unit teachers are using, including daily small-group activities tied to assessment data, saying the curriculum “comes with pretty much everything we would need,” and explained how teachers use assessments to build goals for conferences. Kelly Kaul described piloting Kickstart Literacy, rooted in the science of reading, to supplement the existing curriculum starting in October and noted district-level efforts to bridge preschool and kindergarten instruction.
Board members asked about parent communication and ease of onboarding for new staff; presenters said lesson plans and assessment tools are digital and designed to be easy for new staff to learn. The board acknowledged the preschool’s recent grand opening and community partners present for the event.
