Minutes 02-25-2020 Schools - Laserfiche WebLink

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21 to early childhood investment, and the County must decide where it wants to invest. He said it is important to count the pre-K kids. Chair Rich said the discussion is not whether the BOCC wants to have pre-k kids, but rather about how to make it work. Sarah Smylie said she would like to emphasize CHCCS Chair Wolf's suggestion to count the kids currently enrolled, and she would also like to do something about the waiting list. CHCCS Chair Wolf said she was not suggesting a lack of growth, but rather the CAPS do not have to be set. She said next year, she would like to count the kids in pre-K and have ongoing annual conversations. Commissioner Marcoplos asked if pre-K students can be counted for a year, as an experiment, and see what conversations come from it. Deon Temne asked if, the current students are counted, how is the waiting list acknowledged. He said he would like to know if there is a commitment to having universal pre- K at some point, because if this is a goal the planning must begin. Amy Fowler said the SAPFO is supposed to note the number of students actually in the schools as a planning tool. She said trying to allow more students and reduce the waiting list is a separate issue for having to fund operational needs for those students. Commissioner Dorosin said universal pre-K, which is his goal, does not mean everything is provided by the school system; but rather can include privately run or non-profit entities. He asked if SAPFO is designed to address the waiting list. He sees two issues: how do we serve everyone that needs to be served, and to what extent is that a component of available space, as opposed to other high quality programs that the County could support. Commissioner Bedford said the County did not fully fund the continuation budgets for either school district last year. She said the conversation is somewhat premature. She said she would like to know the operating costs of one more pre-k class, and are any students on the wait list fee paying. She said she needed more basic information. She said she is not talking about universal pre-K, but rather sustaining the preschool classes they have now, maintaining EC federally required classrooms, and looking at the millions of dollars worth of facility needs. She said lets meet the needs of the current K-5 kids, and then maybe consider universal pre-K. She said everyone wants wonderful things, but where will the money come from. Commissioner Bedford said she would like more information about redistricting within OCS. She said there will not be a lot more space, and all will be lucky if there is a bond. Commissioner Price said she agreed, but also feels it may be wise to look at SAPFO again, as it may be time for a review. She said as this review is occurring, then universal pre-K should be considered. She said the social climate will not change unless everyone starts with an equal footing. OCS Chair Atherton said right now the schools are focused on trying to count the existing students. Commissioner Bedford said she supports this action. OCS Chair Atherton said there is the second question of the waiting list, and OCS estimates a pre-K class costing $206,000. He said meeting the waiting list need would require 3 classrooms at $618,000. He said extra classrooms are not a SAPFO question, but rather a funding question. He said he wants SAPFO to plan for the students that actually exists, and have future funding discussions separately. Commissioner Dorosin asked if pre-K kids are counted the same way as k-5, or is there a different formula. OCS Chair Atherton said it will be different for an enclosed EC class, which is mandated by the state. He said there are blended classrooms, which are larger, around 18 students.