Teutopolis School Board Hears About Proposed Pre-School Program

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Published on November 15 2016 2:53 pm
Last Updated on November 15 2016 3:56 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Teutopolis school board members Monday heard about a proposed pre-school program.

Teutopolis Grade School Principal Angie Sheehan said the proposal is to serve 40 children; 20 on Mondays and Wednesdays and 20 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The proposal is to offer instruction from 8-11:30am. There would be a $100 registration charge, and a $75/month fee. The goal would be to have the program ready for the start of next school year.

Sheehan said a pre-school program has been a District goal. She noted there is an instructional program for kids with Individual Educational Plans, or IEPs. The proposed pre-school would serve students based on need determined through screenings; not first-come, first-served. The program would only be offered to students who live in the Unit 50 school district. Transportation would not be offered.

A committee made up of the school psychologist, three teachers, Sheehan and a therapist developed the recommendation.

Board members asked Sheehan to ask the committee to research offering both a morning and afternoon pre-school and to offer it more than two days a week. Sheehan said the goal is to make it a "break even" program. She said there is room to house the program at the grade school building.

Sheehan said she hopes the Board will hear more information at the December meeting and make a decision that night. 

Also Monday, the Teutopolis board approved a change in the ticket distribution policy for basketball to allow 18 members of the Sportsbacker Steering Committee purchase one ticket, just like gold seat ticketholders, since they devote much time to the athletic program. The Board also approved the tentative tax levy with an increase of more than 5% from last year with a vote on the levy at the December meeting.

The Teutopolis board also approved a three-year contract with Apptegy to manage the district's social media communications; agreed to go out for bids on roof projects at both the junior high and high school buildings; voted to purchase two water heaters for the junior high building from Buhnerkempe Plumbing and Heating of Teutopolis; agreed to advertise for a part-time clerical worker in the Unit office; and got information on water damage at the grade school building.