TOPSHAM

MSAD 75 has done its homework when it comes to adding pre-kindergarten classes.

The school district — which includes Topsham, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham and Harpswell — will now work to put together the details for what its pre-K program will look like.

The district created a pre- K task force that included staff, parents and school board members. Task force research included program aspects such as curriculum, logistics and funding. Task force members also connected with RSU 1, which has had a pre-K program for 12 years, and sat in on pre-K classes to get a sense of the curriculum.

“One of our board goals was to maximize student growth and achievement,” Assistant Superintendent Dan Chuhta said. “We saw this as one way to enhance achievement.”

A survey sent out in November to measure parent interest in pre-K received 243 responses; ap- proximately 87 percent of respondents said they would be interested in their child attending a public program.

Families responding to the survey stressed the importance of making the program accessible to working families, but largely believed that pre-K was important for a child’s social skills.

Chuhta said the task force explored a number of needs for families.

“How many days a week would they need after care?” he said. “How long should the school day be? Those are still things we need to work out.”

A number of details still need to be addressed, Chuhta said, including a potential location for the classes, transportation and afterschool care. Enrollment requirements also will be considered, as the district is likely to start with 32 pre-K students.

“One of the messages we heard from everyone who has added pre-K is to start small and build capacity,” Chuhta said. “We will need to determine enrollment requirements.”

At its Dec. 14, 2017 meeting, the school board approved the task force to move forward with pre-K planning. Chuhta said one of the advantages to adding the program next year is that the state would provide its funding before the year begins.

The goal, Chuhta said, would be to get final board approval and submit an application to the Maine Department of Education in April.

chris@timesrecord.com

Survey says

• A SURVEY sent out in November to measure parent interest in pre-K received 243 responses; approximately 87 percent of respondents said they would be interested in their child attending a public program.

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