State Grant Saves District 300's Preschool For All Program

Community Unit District 300 Superintendent Michael Bregy spent last weekend and part of Monday composing a presentation to the school board recommending the district keep its Preschool For All program — even despite fiscal constraints.

Just as Bregy was putting the finishing touches on the presentation, he received a letter in the mail from the Illinois State Board of Education stating that District 300 was the recipient of a $1.38 million grant to fund Preschool For All.

“I think I let out a scream,” Bregy told the school board on Monday night.

As a result, the School Board voted to direct Bregy to begin the re-hiring process to staff the program.

In March, the board released 11.5 Preschool For All teachers because of budgetary constraints. Bregy said he will hire back 4.5 of the teachers.

“I will bring the teachers back in stages,” Bregy said.

District 300 never discontinued the Preschool For All program, but it released the teachers in case there was not enough money to fund it.

Despite considerable economic challenges facing the district, Bregy was prepared to recommend keeping Preschool For All and possibly risk a deficit.

“It’s about student achievement,” Bregy said. “Research shows that’s where we have to start” with the younger at-risk children.

The superintendant said the district has not assessed how many children qualify for free admission into the Preschool For All program.

Last year, District 300 served more than 400 preschoolers. The district likely will have blended preschool classes in 2011 to 2012 filled with special education students, tuition-paying students and the children who qualify for Preschool For All, Bregy said.

Bregy cautioned the board that proceeding with the Preschool For All program carries some risk.

Last year, District 300 received the same $1.38 million grant. So far, the district has only received 40 percent of that money from the state, Bregy said.

“We’re told we’ll receive the rest of that money by December,” Bregy said.

Kristin Corriveau, assistant superintendent for elementary teaching and learning, said District 300 still has openings in its tuition-based preschool program. The district has 98 preschool tuition-based preschool spaces spread among schools throughout the district.

“We have enrollment of 27 percent to 76 percent full in the various buildings,” Corriveau said.