Expanded preschool services possible with Proposition S
Access to early childhood education gives preschoolers a head start, so they can be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. That’s why Springfield Public Schools is committed to expanding access to early childhood education across Springfield with new free preschool programs.
“Building a new early childhood education center in southwest Springfield will expand those services to about 250 preschoolers,” said Lora Hopper, principal at York Elementary School and member of the Community Task Force on Facilities. Plus, as part of the Williams Elementary School renovation, classroom space would be added to serve an additional 100 preschoolers in northwest Springfield.”
New construction of Boyd Elementary would provide space for an early childhood mini-hub also.
Completing these projects will give SPS enough classroom space to offer free, all-day, quality preschool services to over 1,200 four- and five-year-olds each year.
“The Southwest Region Early Childhood Education Center and Williams mini-hub are just one part of a districtwide early childhood expansion,” said Melanie Donnell, kindergarten teacher at York Elementary and member of the Community Task Force on Facilities.
The Southwest Region Early Childhood Education Center will possibly be located on Carver Middle School’s campus. Additional classrooms will provide a venue for services now available for more young learners, thanks to additional funding from the state of Missouri for operation cost.
“New state funding for early childhood is now available for operational costs,” said Bridget Dierks, co-chair of the Community Task Force on Facilities. “The new spaces would provide greater access to free, quality preschool for more students.”
The estimated cost of a new early childhood center is $12.7 million and $3.65 million for adding the early childhood mini-hub at Williams.
The early childhood expansion, is just one way that approval of Proposition S would fund facility improvements. Learn more at SPS.org/PropS