Schools

State Grant Saves District 300's Preschool For All Program

In March, the board released 11.5 Preschool For All teachers because of budgetary constraints.

District 300 recently received a letter from the Illinois State Board of Education stating that it was the recipient of a $1.38 million grant that would fund its Preschool For All program.

“I think I let out a scream,” Bregy told the school board at its July 11 meeting.

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

Find out what's happening in Algonquin-Lake In The Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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.

Find out what's happening in Algonquin-Lake In The Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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

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.


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