Jackson Heights preschool breaks even
Jackson Heights’ preschool program is expected to break even for the 2015-16 school year, and District Superintendent and Elementary Principal Adrianne Walsh is “very pleased” about it.
During the USD 335 Board of Education’s monthly meeting on Monday, board members heard reports from Walsh about the program’s financial picture and from preschool teachers about upcoming changes to the program — including the possible elimination of the “role model” program in the 2016-17 school year.
Walsh presented board members with information that showed that the district is likely to break even on the program for the current semester and school year. Revenues for the current semester, according to information presented by Walsh, total $24,120.93, while expenses for the semester totaled $24,120.64.
The revenues for the semester included a carryover of $9,225.93 from the fall 2015 semester, she noted, stemming from revenues of $22,248.25 and expenses of $13,022 during the semester. But spring semester expenses cover the first eight months of the year, and teacher salaries, insurance and Social Security payments are double the fall semester expenses, bringing the spring semester totals close to even, she added.
Still, Walsh said, “I’m very pleased with where we’re at right now.”
Last year, the program came up more than $300 short on the revenue side, it was reported. That prompted the school board to look at revising the “role model” program, in which some children who are selected to serve as “models” for other children with special needs receive free tuition for acting in that capacity.
On Monday, early childhood special education teacher Kay Smith said it was likely that “next year, we will not have any role models.” The possibility of getting rid of the “role model” program, Smith said, is based on Jackson Heights and other schools in the Holton Special Education Cooperative not meeting the requirements of the state-mandated “Indicator 6.”
According to Smith, meeting the Indicator 6 standard means “the role model population should have been 50 percent, and we didn’t have room for it because of the size.”
The Kansas State Department of Education defines Indicator 6 as the number of preschool-age children (ages 3 through 5) with individualized education programs, or IEPs, attending a preschool program “and receiving the majority of special education and related services in the regular early childhood program.”
Smith and fellow preschool teacher Janice Mulroy said they have been “brainstorming different ways” of looking at the preschool program, including a current situation where children with IEPs interact with “typically developing” preschool children throughout the day. Next year, Smith added, “we will intermix the classrooms,” and children with IEPs will be placed in certain classrooms depending on their needs.
“We feel it’s a positive change altogether,” Smith told the board.
Smith also noted that eliminating the “role model” program means that all children in the program will be subject to the $130 monthly tuition fee, whether parents pay month by month or an entire year in one lump sum. However, she said parents who have difficulty paying the tuition fees are welcome to talk to her about financial assistance.
Board members also noted that given the possibility of Holton Elementary School starting up a preschool program when it opens for the 2016-17 school year, the Jackson Heights program could lose students. Mulroy said that if this is the case, “I honestly don’t see it affecting us,” and Smith added that only a small percentage of preschool students come from Holton and outside the district.
In other business on Monday, the board:
* Heard comment from Ralph Ortega on the progress of an Eagle Scout project involving a small bridge on the high school’s cross-country running course. Ortega said he would like to finish the project before track season starts.
* Approved the meeting’s agenda and consent agenda, the latter including minutes from the board’s Dec. 14 and Dec. 16 meetings and monthly bills and activity account reports.
* Met with David Elsbury, KANZA Mental Health & Guidance Center CEO, who told board members about a fund-raising effort to expand KANZA’s services in Jackson County.
* Approved the district’s 2016-17 calendar on a 6-1 vote, with board member Kelly Kennedy opposed. The calendar sets Thursday, Aug. 18, as the first day of school; Thursday, May 18, 2017, as the last day of school; and high school graduation on Sunday, May 14, 2017, also designated as Mother’s Day, a coincidence that some board members said they wanted to avoid.
* Approved a contract with the Karlin and Long L.L.C. accounting firm of Lawrence for the district’s 2015-16 financial audit at a cost of $4,800, an amount Walsh said had not changed from the previous year.
* Heard a report from Walsh on a report issued by the state’s Special Committee on K-12 Student Success.
* Heard a report from Walsh on the G.R.E.A.T. program at the elementary school.
* Were reminded by Walsh of the upcoming alumni basketball game on Friday, Jan. 22, at which time the high school football field will be named for JHHS coach and teacher Dave Henry during a dedication ceremony, set to begin at 6:30 p.m. that day.
* Heard a comment from Keeler on complaints received about the district’s Web site.
* Heard a report from Walsh on elementary school activities, including a recent appearance of preschool students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on a Topeka television station, professional development inservice on Monday, Jan. 18, the upcoming “100th Day of School” celebration and spelling bee winners from fifth and sixth grades.
* Received a report on recent and upcoming middle and high school activities from middle and high school principal Darren Shupe.
* Met in executive session for one hour to discuss personnel matters and negotiations. No action resulted from the session.
* Adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:10 p.m.
