Lima City School District announced today the expansion of their preschool program in an effort to reach more children in the area.
Beginning this fall, preschool students within the district boundaries will be eligible for busing to preschool as well as more full day options. Freedom and Independence elementary schools will offer full day service. Unity and Heritage schools will offer full and half days. Tuition will be based on federal poverty guidelines and can be as low as $12 a month. School officials pressed the importance of starting young kids in school, citing brain development.
"My teachers do a wonderful job of sending things home for the parents to work with them, the extensions of what they've done in their classroom," said Angela Miller, preschool supervisor. "A lot of our parents actually ask for that and support it. So that, just along with what we do here just helps the kids grow and like the parent said, learn to appreciate books and the materials that we want them to learn."
A parent also shared how valuable the program's been to his son.
"He don't (want) to watch TV (until) he reads a book or he writes his letters or something of that nature and then he'll go to play," said Phillip Crawford a parent with his son in the preschool program. "But then even when he's playing, he'll still want to learn more. Not only do we teach him at home, but they teach him here and it makes a world of difference."
Along with the help of Allen Lima Leadership Class, school officials will be out this Saturday throughout the city spreading awareness of the preschool program.
