Brown County Schools has received $300,000 in grant funding to help stabilize their preschool programming and keep the smallest students safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Superintendent Emily Tracy announced that the school district had received three “Build, Learn, Grow” stabilization grants at the Dec. 2 Brown County School Board of Trustees meeting. Each grant equals about $100,000.
Because each preschool program at Helmsburg, Sprunica and Van Buren elementary schools have Paths to Quality Level 3 certifications it made them eligible for the non-competitive grant, said Director of Student Learning Debbie Harman.
The grants are “designed to provide short-term funding to early care and education and out-of-school time programs that have faced increased costs and challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the Brighter Futures Indiana website.
Grants will be used to stabilize operations and building capacity for future programming. Money for the grants came from American Rescue Plan Act funding the state received and were administered by the state’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.
Harman said the $300,000 will be used by the district to pay employees during closure periods when tuition is not collected from families, support “light construction” in the classrooms and purchase materials to “maintain a safe and healthy environment for children and staff.” The money will also be used to cover other expenses related to the pandemic.
Construction projects include replacing carpet with tile and redesigning cabinets in classrooms to allow for storage of items once they are sanitized, like rest mats, Harman said.
The district would also like to use this recent round of grant funding to move bathroom sinks in the preschool classrooms to outside of the bathroom to allow for staff to be able to make sure children are correctly washing their hands, she continued.
Money from these grants will also be used to address some safety issues in the classrooms, like designing furnishings “with the safety of preschoolers in mind,” Harman said.
“We need new chairs, area rugs and additional equipment to address large motor skill development,” she said.
The free standing cubbies in the room also need replaced with ones that are built into the wall to ensure each child’s personal items are separated.
“Free standing cubbies block sight lines in a preschool classroom, take floor space that can be used for learning purposes and to create distance between play areas, and we have some little ones that like to climb them which can cause them to tip,” Harman continued.
The Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning is a division of the Family and Social Services Administration, which launched the $540 million grant program to help stabilize the childcare industry in Indiana.
“As providers in Brown County, we were strongly encouraged by the FSSA to apply for this financial support,” Harman said.
“Program closures are a real issue in Indiana.”
Enrollment numbers have “rebounded” in the preschool classrooms following the pandemic, but now the issue is a staffing shortage.
Across the country there is a shortage of childcare staff and “our area is no exception,” Harman said.
At each preschool location the capacity is 20 children per classroom with two adults supervising. Paraprofessionals are needed as the district is down three currently.
Early Education Center
This summer the plan is for Brown County Schools to have a fourth preschool program in Nashville when the Early Education Center opens at the Educational Service Center.
But the staffing shortage for preschool teachers and paraprofessionals may delay that past the July target date.
“Given the shortage of trained early childhood education professionals that might be a challenge,” Harman said of opening up the fourth location by July.
Anyone with an associate’s degree in early childhood education or who has their child care development credential are encouraged to apply on the Brown County Schools website or contact Harman.
Two shifts of staff will need to be hired to fully operate the Early Education Center’s daycare and preschool classrooms.
The district is currently working on budget projections for the program and have the preschool room furnished at the new Early Education Center, which will share the building with the Career Resource Center. The goal is for the Educational Service Center to be the spot to educate people of all ages in the community.
Funds are still being sought to furnish the toddler room along with money for equipment and supplies for both rooms, Harman said.
This recent round of grant funding cannot be used for costs associated with the Early Education Center and can only be used for programs that are already operating.
“If we see more rounds, we can apply as long as we obtain our certification (for the Early Education Center),” Harman said.
In 2019, the preschools at Helmsburg, Sprunica and Van Buren elementary schools received Paths to Quality Level 3 certifications.
With Level 3 certification, Brown County Schools can accept On My Way Pre-K grant dollars. Those grants are awarded to 4-year-olds from low-income families to use at any approved On My Way Pre-K program to cover the cost of preschool.
There are four levels in Paths to Quality. By reaching Level 3, the school district becomes able to accept Child Care and Development Fund vouchers from low-income parents to pay for preschool.
The school district has an open enrollment policy, which means children who are at least 3 years old and potty trained can start preschool any time. Children with a disability that delays development of that set of skills do not have to be potty trained, Harman said.
A two full day minimum per week is required for preschool enrollment. Children may attend up to five full days as long as space allows.
Families are encouraged to contact their local elementary school for more information about preschool.
