Board accepts $255,000 for pre-K

BOYERTOWN » A state grant awarded to Boyertown Area School District as part of the Pre-K Counts program was unanimously approved Tuesday evening, July 24, by the school board.

The consent agenda presented at the meeting, which included a Pre-K Counts grant in the amount of $255,000, was approved as a whole by a 9-0 vote.

The school district submitted an application for the grant to the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning for the funds. It is expected that the funds will be used to create prekindergarten classrooms in certain schools in the district. Those classes will include three

half-day prekindergarten classrooms for the 20182019 school year at no cost. Up to 60 students could be accommodated.

Board member Brandon Foose noted that the approval of the grant would help in providing a jump on education for those students in need.

“We obtained a grant in partnership with the Foundation for Boyertown Education to provide a PreK program in a couple of our schools where we have empty classrooms right now. We’re able to put those to use and provide it at no cost to some students in need and I think it will give them a great jump on their education. I think that it’s wonderful that all these different activities are taking place in our community and around our schools,” said Foose.

According to the district website, each of the classrooms will serve up to 20 students in a half-day setting in two of the elementary schools.

A survey is available on the district website for those interested in enrolling their children in a Boyertown Area School District Pre-K Counts classroom.

Students should be at least 4 years of age by Aug. 27, 2018 to qualify for the Pre-K classes.