No motion results on CCS-sponsored preschool for fall

    Chase County Schools will not pursue a school-sponsored preschool this fall.
    After a lengthy discussion Tuesday night, school board members made no motion on the proposal.
    An agenda item asked for discussion and a motion to start a preschool at CCS this fall for the 2020-21 year.
    More than an hour of discussion took place between board members and administration, as more than 40 were logged into the monthly CCS board meeting via Zoom.
    Supt. Larry Lambert gave a scenario of how both grant and local funds could support a CCS-sponsored preschool, using a hypothetical $70,000 Nebraska Dept. of Education (NDE) grant each year for the next three years.
    The NDE also provides a one-time start-up grant of $25,000, Lambert said.
    He said he was unable to give the exact grant figure until June. He said he was told last week by state officials CCS was “in a very favorable position” for the grant money.
    He pointed out that 50% of the staff salaries—an estimated $90,000 for the teacher and $25,000 for the para-professional—could come back to the district from federal special education (SPED) funding. Both staff members would have to have SPED endorsements, Lambert said.
    With all funds considered, and the paying off of two major CCS notes in 2022 and 2023, he felt the preschool would add minimal cost to the district after grant funds are gone.
    He did not favor charging the preschoolers tuition.
    Six board members gave opinions after Lambert’s presentation, and none favored the proposal at this time.

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