PARSONS — The demand for more preschool slots is forcing USD 503 administrators to recognize its value, reported Collen Williamson, the district’s public relations liaison, in the Parsons Sun.
Looking ahead, 20 children are on a wait list for the 2024-2025 school year for its preschool program for 3-year-olds.
“And we already have 35 on the wait list for 4-year-olds, and we are only in March,” said Shelley Gardner, principal at Lincoln.
The program offers preschool in morning and afternoon sessions. For 3-year-olds, 10 children attend each session. Currently, 11 children are on a wait list to attend the program.
For 4-year-olds, 14 attend each session. At this level, there are three classrooms for a total of 84 students, according to the Sun. No wait list exists for this year’s preschool class for 4-year-olds.
The teacher-to-student ratio and limited space determines how many students are allowed in each class.
“If we had more room and an additional teacher,” the program could be expanded and address the need, said Superintendent Lori Ray.
Gardner said children who attend preschool perform better in kindergarten and beyond because they have improved reading skills, motor skills and social skills.
“You can tell the children who have not attended preschool. We can even tell where the children have been to preschool based on the curriculum taught,” she said.
Board member Julie Legler said parents begin signing up their children in January to try to secure a spot. That has been the case for several years.
“I don’t think there should ever be a waiting list,” instructional coach Whitney Spencer told board members. “We want to get these students. We want to work with them. I want to go earlier than 3-year-olds. It would be awesome to work with these kids from infants to toddlers. That’s the big picture.”
