What a difference a year can make.
In spring 2014, Chilkat Valley Preschool officials were so discouraged by the Haines Borough School District’s cool response to a proposal for siting a modular preschool building on its grounds, they gave up on the idea and instead pursued a site near the Presbyterian Church.
On Tuesday, the borough school board unanimously approved pursuing an agreement that would site the privately-managed preschool in superintendent Ginger Jewell’s office, starting in the fall of 2016.
“If this spot is suitable, I can hang my hat anywhere,” Jewell said this week. “All I need is a table and a chair. This space, as it sits, appears to meet their needs.”
School board president Anne Marie Palmieri this week said she and Jewell initiated meetings with preschool board members in April, after a plan to relocate the preschool to a Willard Street building fell through.
By way of explaining a change in the district’s attitude, Palmieri cited a response by former superintendent Michael Byer and the fact that board members have had a year to think about the idea, which was new last year.
“Michael wasn’t very receptive to that. It was the end of the year and he was trying to wrap up a lot of different things before leaving the district,” Palmieri said. “I think our response last year was cautiously optimistic. We didn’t say ‘no.’ We said, ‘You need to work the details out and meet with (district officials).’”
Preschool board chair Alissa Henry said her group was surprised and excited by the district’s offer. “That had been our first option, but we thought it was off the table.”
Henry said the preschool, which has about 20 students, can fit in Jewell’s office, a sectioned part of a room originally built as the school’s art room. “The preschool doesn’t need a lot of space, if it has access to the gym and to outside. It would be great to pare down.”
Jewell and preschool officials have been tasked with working out the details of a memorandum of agreement for siting the preschool in the school. Initial discussions include allowing the preschool to use the gym, library, cafeteria bathrooms and home economics room.
Preschoolers would access the school through its Sixth Avenue entrance.
Palmieri said she didn’t foresee logistical problems with having students of a private school program within the school. “Preschool students are usually with a preschool teacher or a volunteer. I don’t see those issues as a problem.”
Jewell said such private-public partnerships are in place at other districts. “We have our list of things to look at. We provide a roof over their head. Other than that, their program is responsible for all their expenses.”
Utility expenses would be handled under the same arrangements extended to other community nonprofits that use the school, she said. The district would also allow the preschool to develop an additional section of separate playground, if desired.
Jewell said the school was “far” below its student capacity. Having the preschool in the school would have tangible benefits, including reducing students’ transition into kindergarten.
“Early literacy and numeracy skills would be reinforced and resources they need could be accessed here,” Jewell said. In addition, housing the preschool would make easier a federally required “child find” program the district must conduct to identify students who may have developmental issues.
Jewell said the district still needs to address liability and insurance issues with the arrangement. “We don’t see any program impacts at this point, but this is now out for a wider discussion with staff.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, junior high teacher Lisa Andriesen expressed concern about space in the school, saying the district was already tight on classroom and storage space.
school board member Brian Clay said after the meeting that housing a preschool is a “cool idea.”
“I’ve always supported it. It could be a poster child for how to run a pre-K program,” Clay said.
The memorandum of agreement is expected to include language that would allow the district to terminate the arrangement with the preschool if Haines School enrollment increased to the point of needing the preschool space.
Henry said that language personally makes her a little nervous. “Hopefully, we’d be able to stay.”
Preschool supporters have raised more than $100,000 toward a future home. The preschool might be able to use a $30,000 grant for furniture and shelving to equip the superintendent’s office, Henry said.