Perkins plans preschool expansion

PERKINS TWP. — Perkins Schools turned to community members for input on expanding its preschool program. Talks of expanding the district's Little Treasures Preschool Program come from reports about declining student literacy in the U.S. According to an review from the nonpartisan group Policy Circle, literacy rates were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. And while rates increased in years since, data from 2022 shows literacy rates still below pre-pandemic levels. The district wants to tackle this problem early on in a child's life by getting them into the school system faster. Perkins Schools has decided to expand its preschool program, increasing availability for parents and their children, for the 2024-25 school year. But specifics on the expansion have not yet been confirmed. A survey of the district's staff, parents and guardians proposed two options to the community: • Move the preschool program to the 600-wing of the high school, the north end of the building • Keep the young students in the elementary building and shift grades across the district; If option No. 2 is chosen, then second-grade students and staff would move to Meadowlawn Intermediate School, fifth-grade would move to Briar Middle School and eighth-grade would move to high school. The majority of survey respondents preferred that the preschool program move to Perkins High School. It's currently housed in Furry Elementary. Results show 174 responses favor placing the preschoolers in the high school, and 70 preferred the grade shift. The survey also offered the community space to ask school officials questions and comment on the expansion. Sounding off Supporters of the preschool program moving to the high school shared their concerns about the alternative option. Multiple survey respondents commented on the different maturity levels of students, especially those in the intermediate and middle schools. "I don't believe my fifth-grader is ready to be with middle schoolers or on their hell schedule, so that would be a hard no from me," one parent said. Another community member commented that the grade shift option would affect the younger students' mental health. It would cause "increased anxiety to younger students and (expose) them to new things sooner than necessary, for example, social media and more mature talk," the community member wrote. "Second-graders do not need to hear things our fourth-graders talk about at school." Others expressed concerns about how a grade shift would affect teachers. One person said a grade shift would cause headaches for teachers who teach specials and those who work with multiple grade levels within one school. Additional community members favor this change solely based on the size of the high school building. Another person wrote specifically about the size of the school's parking lot, arguing that pre-K pick-up and drop-off would be more effective at a school with more parking spots like the high school. Those in favor of the preschool program moving to the high school also had suggestions to improve education for high schoolers and what they believe would be the best way to operate the preschool program. A few community members have offered the idea of high schoolers working with preschoolers. "There would be great opportunities for some of the older students to help out with the preschool," one person wrote. "They could get help from students going into teaching or psychology, and other students could fulfill community service hours if preschool had slightly different hours than the high school." More viewpoints Survey respondents who supported the grade shift option expressed concerns with the age difference between high school and preschool students. If the preschoolers were to move to the high school, then there would be no opportunity to interact with kindergarteners based on survey-takers' responses. Instead of learning behaviors from a class above them, they would learn from high schoolers much older than them. Other community members commented on how a grade shift will better prepare eighth-grade and preschoolers for when they move up a grade level. One community member commented on how placing an eighth grader in the high school would be an easier adjustment for the students. If eighth-graders move to the high school, they will take over the second-floor hallway where the language classes are currently. This will seclude the students from the high schoolers, some argued. One community member stated that many eighth graders are nervous about transferring to the high school. Moving eighth grade to the high school building would then help them adjust smoothly. One parent believes their student would be exposed to too much at a young age if they were to go to the high school building. "One example is going into lockdown for drug dogs," the parent said. "Also, a majority of school violence happens at the high schools. If there should be a school shooter or anything, they would not be able to defend themselves as older students would." Another survey taker believes keeping the preschoolers in the elementary school will better prepare them for kindergarten. "I also believe strongly that moving second (grade) to Meadowlawn would give those second and third-grade teachers more time to collaborate," they said. Another community member shared their concern for small children in the same area as young drivers. "I have concerns with preschoolers being anywhere near where high schoolers are driving," the community member said. Other expansion ideas The survey also asked the community to share any other ideas on possible expansions. One person suggested giving the preschool program its own campus. This would allow the elementary school to expand its grades, reduce class sizes and improve overall learning, they asserted. This would also mean preschoolers would have a quiet space for an all-day experience. Another community member turned to other local schools for ideas. "Is there room to do portable 'trailers' in the back of Furry like Margaretta did a while ago?" the community member asked. Weighing options Even though the survey favors the preschool moving to the high school, the district is still considering both options and any other ideas. Expanding the preschool program was a priority in the Perkins Schools' strategic plan. The Ohio Board of Education has also called for a change within its Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement. School officials know the expansion will be a long process. They are planning to schedule a work session with the school board about the expansion options. General questions One big question for school officials is determining which option is more cost-effective. The district is exploring options with the price tag being a factor in their decisions. Smaller bathrooms would need to be installed for the preschoolers and added to the budget if the preschoolers move to the high school. Another addition to the budget and planning would be for a playground. If preschoolers go to the high school, the school would need to add a playground to its lot. The school district is also considering adding an all-day option for its preschoolers. Currently, there are only two options for preschool classes including morning and afternoon classes. The district would also have to address how staff would work. There are teachers, counselors, administrators and transportation workers who work for multiple grades and multiple buildings.