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Board discusses moving Early Learning Program into main building, safety and schedule trade-offs
Summary
Administrators and staff reviewed challenges at the separate Early Learning Program (ELP): student behavioral escalation, limited on-site office space, and transportation/scheduling implications if the program shifts to the main building. They discussed using the computer lab or creating a makeshift office at the ELP and shared next steps to gather parent input.
Staff and administrators described safety and logistical challenges associated with the ELP housed in a separate building. A staff member detailed frequent disruptive behaviors and the difficulty of responding in real time because the ELP is physically separate: "It's a safety thing, and it's just that real time response of me being able to as opposed to walk down the hallway to talk to a kid. I have to walk down the street to talk to a kid." The board heard that the ELP building is secure but lacks a private office space to de-escalate children.
Options discussed included relocating the ELP to the school's computer lab, setting up a makeshift office at the ELP so an administrator can be present at set times, or converting lab space while accounting for classes that currently use the lab. Staff noted budget and equipment reuse possibilities: district staff suggested some existing computers and tables in the lab could be repurposed. The group also reviewed partial-day scheduling and the possibility of pairing partial days with licensed daycare to extend care.
The board asked staff to prepare clearer communications for parents enrolling next year and to explore feasibility with OPI (state office) and neighboring programs that use different scheduling models. No formal decision was made; staff were asked to report back with a description of options for parents and timeline for a possible move.
