The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is already working with Seeds Early Learning in offering preschool on their campus this coming Fall.
It was announced during Tuesday’s school board meeting, next school year the corporation will expand those services to include infant and toddler care as well. This new concept allows the school to offer a tot-to-teenager whole family model to support the needs of parents and students enrolled at North Judson-San Pierre.
Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin told WKVI News the rationale is twofold. She stated this will offer preschool and childcare services to staff in order to recruit and retain quality staff members. She added it will also provide additional preschool and childcare to the community, as current community programs are at capacity and have waiting lists.
With the newly renovated elementary school, the corporation has a wing available that is fitting for preschool and childcare. Superintendent Zupin said having the early childhood programs in one location can offer proper “wrap around care” to their developmental preschool and school age children that need aftercare. She went on to say they also have extra rooms at their middle school to move fifth and sixth graders over.
Zupin said moving the fifth and sixth graders over, not only allows space for the early learning programs but also creates an opportunity to have the older elementary students in an environment that is conducive to their size, social needs and behavioral needs. It was mentioned seven years ago, the corporation vacated the middle school for budgetary reasons tied to staffing. While they will place the fifth and sixth grade back to the middle school, they are able to do so without additional staff.
The Central Office Administration team will be housed at the middle school office next year, thus no need for additional office staff. Creative scheduling will mean that they will be able to educate the fifth and sixth graders without the need to hire additional staff. Superintendent Zupin said the empty central administration building could be utilized in many ways. She added making good use of the building will not be difficult.
