Furnishing the classrooms is the next step as the completion of 15 functional rooms at the new Little Panthers Preschool location approaches, Director of Teaching and Learning JoAnn Blevins told the school board Monday. The board approved a government quote from Lakeshore Learning for $45,268 to purchase instructional items and $112,112 for furniture for 10 classrooms, for a total of $157,379. Three of the new classrooms will use existing furniture from the current preschool.

During the meeting, administrators also announced that USD 428 has been awarded a $388,370 Kansas Preschool Pilot grant to assist in efforts to provide quality preschool programming for 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds. This is an increase of $44,960 from the grant awarded for 2023-2024. The funds will be used for Little Panthers Preschool expenditures next year.

Blevins said one change next year will be that 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds won’t be in separate classes. Combining them into one classroom will shorten the waiting list by maximizing the number of children the district can serve, she said.