A pre-kindergarten program is needed in the county, Lowndes County School District board members agreed Friday, but questions remain about issues like transportation and the total cost of implementation.
After researching state education requirements, Elementary Coordinator Robin Ballard returned to the board with a proposal to offer two classes at each of the district’s three elementary schools. Each campus at Caledonia, New Hope and West Lowndes would offer a federally funded class and a tuition-based class.
The United States Department of Education would give $50,000, per campus, to be used for children from low-income families or single-parent households. To receive the funding, classes can only have 10 students per teacher. Teachers with two years of experience make around $34,000, plus benefits, adding up to $45,000. If the class also has an assistant teacher, 20 students are allowed. Assistants make an average of $17,000 a year, plus benefits.
Parents would pay $300 per month for children to attend the tuition-based class, which would allow 20 students per class. Ballard said the tuition-based classes could be used to fund the deficit in the federally funded classes, thereby allowing 20 students per class.
Other difficulties must be resolved, as well. Schools with pre-kindergarten programs must have a fenced play area, which means New Hope Elementary would have to install a fence at a cost of around $5,000. Caledonia Elementary only has one room available for one class, but a larger classroom would allow a split tuition-based and federally funded class.
Bathrooms must be within 125 feet of each pre-kindergarten class, and closets must have child-friendly inside latches. In order to offer bus transportation, each bus must have one additional adult onboard, costing the district more money.
The possible lack of transportation has concerned board member Jacqueline Gray from the beginning, especially for preschool students at West Lowndes Elementary. She said she wants the program implemented by August, but until the transportation issue is resolved, she can’t support it.
“We need to have the numbers and figures,” Gray said. “Pre-K is very important to me; I just need to know the facts of what it’s going to cost.”
Superintendent Lynn Wright encouraged the board to go ahead and approve the program, perhaps raising tuition to $325 to fund it, but with so many questions, board members voted unanimously to table the measure, until next month.
Wright said the program gives children a good start, alleviating some problems they might otherwise face in future years.
“It’s kind of a critical step,” Wright said. “The sooner we can start, the more kids will benefit and the more the district will benefit.”
That’s part of board member Robert Barksdale’s concerns every child may not be given the opportunity to participate, because of class size restrictions.
“I’m not against this; there’s just too many questions not answered,” Barksdale said. “If we can’t get it this year, I hate it, but we should postpone it a year.”
Another tabled motion was a change to the student handbook, which would require all students to wear uniforms. Currently, only students at West Lowndes Elementary and West Lowndes Middle School wear uniforms.
Wright said area principals are in favor of the idea, because it’s more economical for parents, cuts down on discipline issues and makes it easier to identify intruders entering campus. He said he polled students three years ago, and 90 percent were in favor of uniforms.
But board members said parent surveys should be offered, via text message alert or on the district’s website, to gauge support.
Changes to the cell phone policy also were tabled. Under current policy, if cell phones are confiscated during class, parents can come to the school and retrieve the device. Under the new policy, if students are caught committing a second or third offense, parents will have to pay $25 to retrieve the phone.
In another matter, the board approved the hiring of three interventionist positions, also known as guidance counselors, at each of the elementary schools, and tabled a motion to hire three graduation coaches at the high schools.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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