SAINT CLAIR - After the Saint Clair Area school board announced a possible partnership with Child Development Inc. in March, it announced Wednesday that it saw interest from parents in the district.
During the board's work session Wednesday night, Jason S. Bendle, acting superintendent/principal, said that while he didn't have any numbers, Child Development had a "positive turnout" of parents during kindergarten registration at the school on March 24, 25 and 26.
"I'm anticipating that we're going to be able to run that classroom, but I don't have anything definite on that yet," Bendle said.
According to newspaper archives, the district plans to rent the rooms to Child Development, which would allow parents to have the choice of a paid before- and after-school program for kindergartners, and possibly even a K4 or prekindergarten program.
Bendle previously said that since the state does not allow schools to offer paid kindergarten services, this would be an option for parents, plus Child Development is planning to align its curriculum with Saint Clair Area.
This option comes after the school board approved cutting kindergarten from a full-day to a half-day program last month for the next school year and is working to balance its 2014-15 budget that has a $1.5 million deficit.
Bendle also announced that there are currently 52 students registered for kindergarten in the upcoming school year.
"That's approximately where we are every year at this time," Bendle said.
He also discussed that while the district enjoys running its summer enrichment program, he doesn't think it can be held this summer due to budget issues and no grant money available at this time.