PUBLIC SCHOOLS GET INTO THE PRESCHOOL BUSINESS

OAK RIDGE -- Oak Ridge School District is hoping a public preschool program in its first year will become a long-standing feature in the district's educational program.

The district was one of several in the state to receive a Missouri Preschool Project grant in 1999 to fund startup and operating costs for an early childhood learning program. The program is unique because it is administered by public school systems and classes are taught by certified teachers.

The Cape Girardeau School District also received a Missouri Preschool Project grant in 1999. The district's program is currently housed at May Greene Elementary School and has an enrollment of 10 students.

"There's a lot of interest in working with 3 and 4 year olds," said Superintendent Cheri Fuemmeler. "There's a strong indication they are encouraging school districts to look in that direction."

The program is licensed by the state and is working towards state certification. Fuemmler also hopes to meet the state goal of establishing a self-supporting program at the end of three years.

To that end, parents pay $70 weekly or $14 per day to participate in the program. A sliding fee is available for families who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program.

Eighteen 3- and 4-year olds are involved in the program, which is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The district can enroll as many as 20 students.

Students may enroll at the age of 5 if they were ineligible for kindergarten because of their birthdate.

"We did a lot of research prior to and feel like the rates are a little bit lower than the surrounding area," Fuemmeler said.

Teachers spend much of the day teaching students from the Creative Curriculum, one of four programs provided by the state for grant recipients. Emphasis is placed on learning through play and preparing children for kindergarten.

Although the students are in a public school setting, some things are similar to private programs. For example, preschool students are still of an age when afternoon naps are necessary.

Fuemmeler said both the district and the children benefit from preschool programs that are based in a public school setting. Children are ready to start kindergarten because the school is "not so strange and different," she said.

And the school district benefits whenever a child has "additional experience in the school setting," she said.

Fuemmeler said her district had been interested in developing a preschool program in previous years, but lacked funding. The Missouri Preschool Project is a nice addition in Oak Ridge, where there are few preschool programs in the community.

The Oak Ridge Board of Education built a 1,960-square foot facility to house the program that was not included in the grant. Fuemmeler said the financial effort by the district and community businesses many of which provided services and supplies at lower rates indicated strong support for the district's program.

"We did it through a lot of community effort and people devoting extra hours," she said. "Many families take kids to places in Cape, Jackson or Perryville. This provides a service to them so they can keep their kids close to home."

OAK RIDGE PRESCHOOL AT A GLANCE

1 Administered by public school systems in Missouri.

2 Funded by state grant.

3 Taught by certified teachers.

4 Licensed by the state

5 Cost $70 a week or $14 per day.

6 Open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

7 As many as 20 students may enroll.

8 Emphasis placed on learning through play and preparing children for kindergarten.

9 Goal of establishing self-supporting program at end of three years.

10 Cape Girardeau's program currently housed at May Greene Elementary School.