Elkins details Cloverdale preschool needs, expectations

Friday, March 17, 2023

CLOVERDALE — Parents have shown interest in a ramped-up preschool program at Cloverdale Elementary School. Now there is a push on developing it into the next school year.

Cloverdale Elementary School Principal Mary Jane Elkins detailed how this would be accomplished at the Cloverdale School Board’s recent regular meeting. In essence, the focus was on early development and meeting students where they might be.

Elkins prefaced that the mindset is to enrich those who may not have a suitable home environment for learning, but ultimately to benefit all students. As such, she outlined what she said would be a comprehensive and accommodating setup.

Two classes would be offered. There would be a three-year-olds class (known as Pre-Clovers) that would promote academic readiness through explorative play, problem-solving and learning communication. A four-year-olds class would build on those skills before children would go into kindergarten.

Elkins optimistically estimated that 18-24 three-year-olds could be enrolled in 2023-24, but increase to 26-30 for 2024-25. In turn, it could be 22-28 four-year-olds increasing to 36-42, respectively.

As of now, Pre-Clovers would come two-to-three times a week in either morning or afternoon classes, while the four-year-olds would attend Monday through Friday during the regular school day. For the latter, though, parents have expressed only having three days as well.

“We’re always thinking about how we can better ourselves, and that kindergarten readiness is really where we need to start,” Elkins said. With that, she stated that the goal is for at least 50 percent of students entering kindergarten to have attended the Pre-K.

Elkins said 19 students could be definitely enrolled in the four-year-olds program next year, with eight solid for the three-year-olds. She stipulated that some students could be enrolled later.

Forty-five parents indicated on a survey that they would attend a kindergarten roundup either this year or next year. Along with this, Elkins said that getting the program rolling depends on fundamentally building the instructional model.

In terms of staff, Elkins said two additional full-time teachers would have to be secured this year, with another one or two next year. Also needed would be additional instructional assistants and extended daycare staff. One teacher currently has training in early childhood development.

“We gotta decide when we make a financial commitment, are we gonna be able to hire qualified people for these positions,” Elkins said to this. “It’s not about coloring in between the lines, it’s about knowing the early childhood research, and how we can best develop our students to grow and be successful.”

This year’s kindergarten roundup at Cloverdale is set for April 6. With that, the Pre-K program is moving forward even as the definite numbers are to be determined.

In other business:

• The board approved the receipt of a $1,000 anti-substance abuse grant from the Putnam County PIE Coalition.

• The board approved the annual Snails to Trails enrichment program for the coming summer.

• The board approved the Cloverdale Youth League purchasing and installing two new portable dugouts for its baseball diamond. At a cost of $2,191, they will be built off-site and delivered by C3 Farms.

• The board officially approved the Costa Rica trip set for spring break of 2024. The trip was introduced at the board’s meeting last month.

The board also recognized Cloverdale Schools’ Students of the Month: Jenna Tanner (Cloverdale Elementary School), Jason Withrow (Cloverdale Middle School) and Samantha Dorman (Cloverdale High School).

The board in turn recognized Teachers of the Month with Rachel Newton (Cloverdale Elementary School), Tori Maldonado (Cloverdale Middle School) and Sara Howard (Cloverdale High School).

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Hires: Shianna Parker - school medical assistant for one-to-one SPED student; Mark Rogers - CHS boys’ golf coach; Josh Stewart - CHS JV baseball coach; Bradley Johnson - CHS assistant track coach; and Charlie Lee - CHS head baseball coach;

• Resignation: Gerry Hoffa - CHS head baseball coach; and

• Volunteer: Tyce Jackson - Volunteer assistant baseball coach.

With the entire board present, Supt. Greg Linton was also in attendance at the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale School Board is set for Monday, April 10 at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Office near Cloverdale High School.

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  • who may not have a stimulating environment at home.

    that is an amazing quote that needs to be the focus. Performance and society would drastically change

    -- Posted by beg on Fri, Mar 17, 2023, at 12:06 PM
  • Some people are really trying. And even if they aren’t, we owe it to these children to try. Good for Cloverdale for trying to address a need.

    -- Posted by The Crusty Curmudgeon on Fri, Mar 17, 2023, at 1:15 PM
  • I always thought preschool was meant to help kids perform better in school? Saying that Cloverdale preschool is for kids who don't have a stimulating environment at home is insulting to the parents and the kids that are enrolling.

    -- Posted by Raker on Fri, Mar 17, 2023, at 2:21 PM
  • I noticed they changed the sentence, it still says basically the same thing just in a nicer way. But I don't mean to criticize the author. I get it though, it's a sales pitch to the school board, so they want to point out how preschool will help disadvantaged kids the most. I accept that it was most likely unintentional for it to come across as condscending to regular parents that choose preschool. The fact that beg thought the description was amazing, however, is what's really troubling. ULTRA MAGA

    -- Posted by Raker on Fri, Mar 17, 2023, at 8:22 PM
  • I read the article again, and just felt like reiterating that I think the principal's comments are a bit condescending. So the main focus of their preschool program is remedial education? Is this just a subtle way of her saying she thinks preschool is mainly to help kids with learning and behavior issues? I think many parents see preschool simply as something fun and educational for their kid to do for a few hours a week, where they can play and socialize with other kids their age. And also maybe help their kids do better later in school, not necessarily because they have trouble learning or a lack at home, but because of the early start to classroom education.

    -- Posted by Raker on Mon, Mar 20, 2023, at 11:24 PM
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