Elk Run Elementary Will Reopen Next Year As a Preschool

By Andrew Wind, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Apr. 25–ELK RUN HEIGHTS — Elk Run Elementary is six weeks away from closing its doors and being replaced by a new Evansdale school.

But the school will be reborn next fall as an early childhood education center. Waterloo Community Schools officials expect to fill seven to eight classrooms in one wing of the building.

“We’re probably in the neighborhood of 140 children that are 3- and 4-year-olds,” said Patrick Clancy, the district’s associate superintendent for educational and student services.

“If we do a.m. and p.m. sessions, it will be more than that, but it looks like at least 140 students.”

Most of the students will be shifted from existing Head Start or Area Education Agency 267 classrooms elsewhere as officials aim to more evenly distribute early childhood education services around the district.

However, Clancy expects new state funding will allow the district to expand voluntary 4-year-old preschool with the equivalent of two additional classrooms at the Elk Run building.

Last week, the Legislature sent a bill to Gov. Chet Culver that would spend $15 million next year increasing access to free quality preschool. Another $15 million would be added in each of the following three years, for $60 million in funding by the fourth year. Culver is expected to sign the bill.

Any 4-year-old could qualify for the program, although the capacity will be limited.

“There is not an income restriction on that, or a geographic restriction,” said Clancy. “I believe we would be able to serve 4-year-olds from across the district on a voluntary basis.”

Officials expect to serve middle-income families who can’t afford high-quality preschool programs but don’t qualify financially for Head Start.

Continued use

Staff and students at Elk Run are glad to see a continued use for the school as they head to Poyner Elementary next fall.

Maggie Petersen, a teacher’s aide and 22-year resident of Elk Run Heights, said the building is important to the community.

“I think that’s fabulous,” she said of preschool plans. “It will make a great school building.”

“I’m glad they aren’t tearing down the building,” said third-grader Trent Webb.

Classmate Breeanna Harper believes the school should be used by more than preschoolers.

“I don’t agree with that,” she said. “I think it should be a day care for all ages.”

But officials are focused on expanding early childhood education, especially with the availability of the state funds.

Clancy said plans remain tentative for the new classrooms. The district has to go through the application process for state funding once the bill is signed and doesn’t know some details, such as if morning and afternoon classes can be offered for different children. That would increase the total number of students.

The bill’s funding was to provide 10 hours of preschool per week.

“We will be doing more than 10 hours a week with whatever model we choose,” said Clancy. “We do not believe that 10 hours a week is adequate. That is a minimum, and we will go beyond that.”

He noted the center’s classrooms will integrate children from each of the partnering programs. Special education students will have a self-contained classroom, although some will be included in the other classrooms.

The equivalent of three or four classrooms would come from the Tri-County Child & Family Development Council’s Head Start program. One would come from AEA 267′s special education program at Castle Hill School. Both serve 3- and 4-year-olds.

Another serving 4-year-olds would come from McKinstry Elementary School either this fall or a year later.

Kim Young-Kent, Tri-County’s executive director, said the Head Start classrooms are moving from areas in Waterloo or Cedar Falls that already have good access to the program.

“Our Elk Run and Evansdale families are not covered as well,” she said.

All instructors at the center will be certified teachers. Tri-County currently requires its teachers to have at least a two-year degree in early childhood or childhood development, but most have bachelor’s degrees.

“As much as 70 percent of our teachers now have BA degrees and are certified in early childhood,” said Young-Kent. “Our goal is to get to 100 percent.”

Since Elk Run Elementary is already a school, officials say few changes will be needed for the preschool programs to move in.

“The building is in great shape,” said Young-Kent. “It’s just a matter of taking out elementary stuff and putting in early childhood stuff.”

Sinks eventually will be installed in every classroom and playground issues dealt with to meet preschool standards.

Clancy also is interested in involving high-quality private preschool programs at the Elk Run building.

“I think that’s very possible,” he said. “We haven’t entered into any discussions with private providers, but we are very open to that possibility.”

Contact Andrew Wind at (319) 291-1507 or andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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