Park City & Deer Valley

Morning & Afternoon Sessions Available for 4-Year-Olds

Official enrollment in Park City School District will not be measured until Oct. 1. But unofficial counts have shown that enrollment may drop by about 200 students from last year, said district business administrator Patricia Murphy. Having fewer students in the school has opened up additional classroom space, and administrators plan to fill that space by introducing a preschool program at McPolin Elementary in October.

The school board members began seriously considering a full-scale preschool program about a year ago, according to School Board President Kim Carson.

Administrators planned to offer one class with hopes the classes would quickly expand to the other elementary schools. They began earmarking monies from the budget to start the program, Superintendent Ray Timothy said.

Park City schools have been working with Davis County schools to offer a limited early-education program for a number of years through the Government Head Start program. Head Start is designed to help minority families become self-sufficient and prepare children for success in school.

Curriculum director Tom VanGorder worked closely with Judy Jackson, the Davis County School District Head Start director, to bring existing Head Start principles into the development of the local preschool program. "When families achieve more, children achieve more," Jackson said.

The collaborative effort allowed Davis and Park City districts to combine curriculum and staff for the preschool.

"We'll be leaning on each other hard to make sure this goes where we need it to go," Jackson said.

VanGorder developed the curriculum by studying successful preschools in the Granite School District. He then worked to shape the program to the needs of families with students in Park City schools.

VanGorder and Jackson looked to research showing a direct correlation between preschool programs and a narrowing achievement gap. "The earlier we can reach children and start them with those connections," Jackson said, "We'll see that achievement gap close."

The program will be funded primarily by four federally-funded sources. Head Start, Title One, Special Ed. and Title Three monies will fund the program for qualifying students.

The Federal Jobs Bill may provide the potential funding to extend the preschool classes to all four elementary schools this school year, Timothy said. But because the stimulus initiative is designed to preserve and maintain current jobs, administrators will wait to see how they can use the funds for new positions or programs, he said.

The plan was cut back to its roots to ensure the program didn't lose its funding. "We had it already earmarked in our budget," Timothy said.

McPolin Elementary will offer a morning and afternoon session for 4-year-old students beginning Oct. 20. Each class will meet Monday through Thursday for three hours. Registration is $30 and will be held Sept. 27 and 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. With only 29 available slots, classes will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis.

Superintendent Timothy plans to extend the preschool to the remaining elementary schools as soon as permanent funds are secured. "Our ultimate goal is to have one three-year old class and one four year old class in each of our elementaries," he said.

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

by Douglas Greenwood OF THE RECORD STAFF : The Park Record