Below is from: https://www.district100.com/boardofeducation/facilities-master-plan
The Facilities Master Plan recommends the possible addition of an Early Childhood Center. Why would this be important?
Decades of early childhood research studies demonstrate that children with access to high quality early childhood development and health opportunities are more prepared for kindergarten, do better in school, and are more likely to graduate and enroll in college. Currently D100 is offering early childhood programming, and the District would like to continue to expand this opportunity for our students and families.
Programatically, an early childhood center would allow our current program to grow in size, both in number of classrooms and in the number of children that can be served. We know that we have many families in our community that would like to have a child attend early childhood programming, but we are unable to accommodate all of our interested families. Additionally, we know that some of our families would like us to explore full day programming. We continue to have to place students on a waitlist and do not have additional classroom spaces to create new sections at this time. Our waitlist demonstrates that we are also in need of additional bilingual classroom sections. A goal of the IL Preschool for All (PFA) program is to increase all-day preschool programming options for families. We become eligible for more state funding if and when we offer full day programming, which includes meal service.
Preschool children benefit from having a learning space that is specifically built for their body size and their curriculum. Operationally, small child-designed buildings have toilets and sinks that are low to the ground and that do not require the use of stools, in order to avoid falls. Preschooler’s balance and coordination are still developing as is their independence in using the bathroom. Many of our preschool students are still in diapers and pull ups and require facilities with changing tables and areas for clean up after accidents. This includes laundry facilities. Classrooms must also be large in layout to accommodate the state-required learning centers and interest areas.
As a PFA state-funded preschool program, District 100 Early Childhood is required to strive to meet specific quality standards described within the ECERS-3 Framework and PFA Compliance Expectations. Some of these requirements and expectations include:
Indoor gross-motor learning spaces with specific opportunities for climbing, swinging, throwing, pedaling, etc.
Fully fenced and preschool body-sized playground designed to provide the same gross-motor movements above
Areas for implementing the approved curriculum with fidelity: child-friendly cooking spaces, sand and water play areas, outdoor learning spaces
Space for offering parenting education resources and materials for families
Space for hosting regular parent education opportunities and family engagement during and adjacent to the school day
Blended classrooms where students with and without disabilities learn in the same environment. This requires the support of a robust related service team and administrator support that can be on site at all times to best support student and family needs. A center would include offices, training areas, and collaboration spaces for IEP meetings and planning.
Based upon demographics in their own study
▪ Overall resident student population expected to decrease 1%
▪ Caledonia, Lincoln, and Meehan Elementary Schools projected to decrease 6-9%
▪ Perry Elementary projected to increase 5.4%
▪ Both middle schools will increase in student over the next 5 years, then see a reduction in students in 5-10 years
The demographics study will be repeated annually for the next 2 years in response to anticipated changes in the Belvidere area that might not have been captured in this report
Currently District 100 has a new debt statutory limit of $81.3 million
