Frazier discusses accepting 3-year-olds into pre-k again
PERRYOPOLIS — The Frazier School Board discussed accepting 3-year-olds again into its pre-kindergarten program this fall after losing state funding for 12 students last year based on financial guidelines.
Ken Meadows, acting superintendent, proposed the idea Thursday to the school board during a work session.
“If they do not meet those guidelines then we lose funding for that amount of kids,” said Meadows.
According to Meadows, the funding amounts to $4,000 per student.
The board eliminated 3-year-olds from the program several years ago to focus more on the 4-year-olds.
“Before we had the program kids were coming out of kindergarten as emergent readers,” said Meadows.
“Now they’re coming out as 3- and 4-year-old emergent readers,” said Meadows.
According to Meadows, the program has two morning classes and two afternoon classes that are able to accept a maximum of 20 students each.
Meadows said he was looking to put the 3-year-old into one of two afternoon classes.
“The more funding we lose from the state we’re taking out of the general fund,” Meadows said.
Meadows said there were 45 slots filled in the program last year, but came up short of funding for 12 students that did not meet the financial guidelines.
“In the past we had 3-year-olds that would help make up the difference of the extra kids,” said Meadows. “Funding is one thing, but academics is the key.”
At the end of July, Meadows said there were 14 students registered in each of the two morning classes.
In the two afternoon classes, Meadows said there were 10 students registered in one and eight in the other.
Meadows said registration would be on a first come, first serve basis.
“We have enough for another 13 or 14 4-year-olds, in the morning and I want to take care of them first,” said Meadows.
Meadows noted this could be the first time the district has to turn away students if the board agrees to bring back the 3-year-olds into the program.
Stacey Erdely, board president, said parents should be made aware there could be a cut off based on grant requirements.
“I think it’s important we keep this program,” said Erdely.
In an unrelated matter, the board accepted the resignation of member Charles “Bud” Petrosky effective immediately.
Petrosky stated in a letter to the board that he reached a point in his life that he did not need any more stress and turmoil, which he had been feeling lately.
The board has 30 days to appoint someone to fill the vacancy and will accept letters until Aug. 18.