2004 Year in Review

At Risk Preschool Grant

Morrison School District was presented a State of Illinois At Risk Preschool Grant for $60,000. The Illinois State Board of Education funds this grant. This has been a dream of superintendent’s, Dr. Jody L. Ware, since she has arrived to the Morrison Community.

The grant will provide a half-day pre-kindergarten program for approximately 20 children ages three and four. It will run from 8:10-11:10 a.m. five days a week. There is no charge to the family.

The classes will be instructed in a Northside Elementary School classroom. It will provide the children with the opportunity to use school facilities and equipment.

There will be one teacher and one classroom aide facilitating the program. The grant money covers the entire cost of the program.

In order to qualify for the program there are certain indicators that students must have in order to show a need for this early intervention program.

Screening for selecting students for this program will be held September 8 and 9, 2004 at Northside School from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Appointments need to be made to participate in the screening. Children will be assessed using DIAL-R testing, which includes three components to the test: motor skills, readiness concepts and language development. A behavioral checklist will also be part of the screening, and a parent interview.

The curriculum will be High Scope Curriculum that supports the development of the whole child in the domains of visual, motor, language and speech development, early literacy skills, fine and gross motor development, social skills and cognitive development.

In addition to providing a preschool program, the grant pays for a part-time parent coordinator. The coordinator will be responsible for coordinating parent education programs, plan child interaction nights and home based family fun.

According to Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jody Ware, “It is the intention of the Morrison School District to have the program up and running by October 1, 2004.” Dr. Ware noted how this preschool is another improvement in Morrison's educational system. The preschool program will allow an opportunity to provide early intervention learning strategies for young children prior to their entering kindergarten.

At this time the board has hired Jennifer Williams from Rock Falls as the preschool educator. The district is still accepting applications for a .60 (7:50 a.m. 51; 1:10 p.m.) aide position. Sixty hours of post high school education is required for the position. Applications can be submitted to the Morrison School District Unit Office, 643 Genesee Avenue, Morrison, IL 61270.

by Dawn Zuidema, theCity1.com
August 27, 2004