An Investment in our Children's Future

by Susan H. Zurvalec, Superintendent, Farmington Public Schools


April, designated the "Month of the Young Child," is a time to celebrate the importance of a strong early childhood education. Research clearly demonstrates that a strong preschool education can develop the pre-academic skills, imagination and social and emotional capacities of three and four-year olds that can literally transform children's lives with continuing benefits into adulthood. This is especially true for children of immigrants and lower income families. In a major longitudinal study of the Head Start High Scopes project, children with a quality preschool experience are much less likely to need special education services, have higher high school graduation rates, and higher life time earnings than their counterparts without an early education experience. Children from immigrant families whose first language is other than English demonstrate impressive gains in language development and reading in elementary school. Yet despite the documented benefits of a preschool education, only a few states have invested in universal preschool as part of their public school systems. Also, unfortunately, the federal government is reducing its funding for Head Start programs despite research that shows for every $1 invested in preschool education, taxpayers realize a return of more than $7.

Farmington Public Schools has operated early childhood programs for many years. All programs are fully accredited and use fully credentialed staff. With the exception of certain special education, Head Start and MSRP grant programs, our preschool programs must charge tuition. With a projected revenue shortfall of $13.7 million dollars for the next fiscal year, the District must reduce its general fund expenditures and this includes support for its early childhood programs. Thus, consolidation of early childhood programs has become a necessity. Following a review of operations by our budget study committee on early childhood education, administration recommended that the Fairview Early Childhood Center be closed. The committee further recommended that the Fairview programs be consolidated with Alameda and Farmington Community School programs and that four preschool classrooms be opened in neighborhood elementary schools: Eagle, Wood Creek, which already operates preschool classes, Gill and Hillside. The estimated annual savings for the district will be approximately $350,000. Plans are underway to ensure a smooth transition to these sites and enrollment in preschool classes is underway.

Closing Fairview, which has provided a wonderful early childhood education for many years, is especially difficult for the families and staff who love their school. It was not a decision entered into easily. In 2003, the district conducted a facilities study of our early childhood programs to examine cost, possible consolidations and consider options to raise revenues so that the general fund support of our early childhood programs would be eliminated or significantly reduced. Staff have worked hard to inform our community of the quality programs we offer, yet becoming "self-sufficient" and keeping tuition affordable continued to be a challenge; especially at Fairview which continued to have the most excess capacity of the three centers.

The proposed plan to operate two centers and provide preschool programs in elementary schools has several advantages. The District will be able to continue to operate two early childhood centers at Alameda, located centrally, and at Farmington Community School, located in the south end of the district. The space at these facilities will become more fully utilized and continue to provide parents with many program options under one "roof." Parents who would like to have a preschool program where their children go to elementary school will find four locations in the north, east, west and southwest corners of the district to chose from. Preschool students in elementary school classrooms will have access to the same enrichment activities as those students attending the early childhood centers including physical education, and library/media resources, and science. An additional bonus to preschool in the elementary buildings is that the preschool teachers will have opportunities to collaborate with kindergarten and elementary staff for professional development, which will assist students in transitioning from preschool to elementary school. Research indicates that one of the most important transitions for students may not be from elementary to middle or middle to high school, but from preschool to kindergarten.

Farmington Public Schools is proud to be able to continue to provide quality preschool programs for our community. Interested parents should contact Nancy Ely, Director of Early Childhood Education, at 248-489-3808 for more information.