South Bristol School plans to introduce a prekindergarten program for the 2020-2021 school year.
The pre-K program will run all five days, throughout each school day, according to the minutes of the South Bristol School Committee’s Dec. 10 meeting.
The program will be open to 4-year-olds and 3-year-olds who will turn 4 by Oct. 15, 2020, according to South Bristol School Principal Scott White.
The school currently expects the program to have eight students in its first year, although the number could change before the next school year begins, White said.
The school’s current kindergarten teacher will teach the pre-K class too, White said. An educational technician who currently works elsewhere in the school will now work with the pre-K.
The school is in the application process with the state to gain approval of the program, according to White.
The pre-K program would be only the second in AOS 93. Bristol Consolidated School established a program in 2012.
The costs for the pre-K are in South Bristol’s 2020-2021 education budget. At the Dec. 10 meeting, the committee approved the purchase of five-point safety restraints for SBS buses and the hiring of a bus aide.
The board anticipates startup costs to be $50,000-$70,000, according to the December minutes. Final budget numbers were not available yet.
The school committee will have a joint meeting with the South Bristol Board of Selectmen to discuss the 2020-2021 education budget Feb. 4.
At the school committee’s last meeting, Jan. 7, White spoke on plans for facilities improvements.
White reported on three quotes to repair and rewrite the school’s generator and protect conduit from future damage. The costs range from $20,595-$29,376.
White also presented estimates for new carpet for the library, which he suggested including in the 2020-2021 budget, and for sump pump repairs, which the committee approved.
The committee discussed a potential security system for the school and agreed to discuss the subject further with the selectmen.
Committee Chair Sara Mitchell made a motion to include $5,000 in the 2020-2021 budget for long-range planning. The committee approved the motion.
