The USD 257 Board of Education made official its decision to move the districts preschool program from Windsor Place, one of Iolas few remaining assisted living facilities, to McKinley Elementary School.
The Iola school district was only the second in the state to pioneer such an age-to-age preschool endeavor. The program, whose remit was to place a pre-K classroom inside a local nursing home, was started in 2010 and was designed to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between the young students and the mostly elderly residents.
But on Monday night the board following the recommendations of McKinley principal, Angie Linn; preschool teacher, Reagan Parks; and pre-K paraprofessional, Kasey Roach made the decision to retire the age-to-age experiment and relocate the preschoolers to McKinley Elementary School.
The move made possible, explained Linn, by a newly available classroom space at McKinley will offer a host of new benefits to students and teachers both. The opportunity is right, said the principal, who went on to itemize the advantages of the change: the consolidation of food service material and office supplies; the access pre-K pupils will now have to the library and gym; the benefits preschoolers gain from interacting with kindergartners; and the value that will flow to the preschool teacher, who will once again be able to take advantage of the on-site professional support of her colleagues.
It was a bit troubling to think about pulling from such a unique program, said board president Dan Willis. But, he continued, there is some salve to be taken from the fact that at least some administrators at Windsor Place agree that ending the age-to-age program would be in their best interest, too. They believe, said Willis, their facilities and their residents might obtain greater benefit from a tenant a full-time daycare perhaps who occupies the space on an all-day basis for 12 months per year rather than the districts current nine-month contract. I was less troubled after I heard that, Willis said.
The boards decision was unanimous. Preschool classes will commence at McKinley Elementary beginning in the fall.
IN OTHER action:
The board reviewed a series of bids before approving purchase of three district vehicles: a 2018 Ford Micro Bird, a 24-passenger school bus with built-in wheelchair lift, from Kansas Truck Equipment Co., for $65,405; a 2014 77-passenger Bluebird bus with added under-storage, also from Kansas Truck, for $58,890; and a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan from Twin Motors Ford (Iola) for an even $19,000. The districts total vehicle purchase amount equaled $143,295.
The school board also accepted a bid for purchase of two old school buses and six old welders, netting the district a total of $2,450 for the lot.
The group then approved a $23,850 bid from Stark-based Murphy Roofing Company for the replacement of the district office roof and a $13,866 bid from Lickteig Construction, Garnett, for the districts concrete repair needs.
The board voted to employ the financial services consultancy of Wichita-based George K. Baum Co. for the upcoming district bond issue. The firm also provided the district with municipal advisory services in the 2014 bond campaign.
Finally, the board moved their next meeting from Monday, May 28 Memorial Day to Tuesday, May, 29.
