Nedrow (WSYR-TV) - The Onondaga Central School District is in jeopardy of losing its early education program next year. Tuesday night, the Board of Education discussed three ways to save it.
The first proposal would create a typical pre-k program for Onondaga Central. Right now the early education program can only serve a certain number of special needs students and other students. The second proposal would make the early education program an all-day session, instead of half days. The third option is called a special class in a graded setting.
"This is a program for special needs students that match the same amount of typical students. So, if we have 12 special needs students, we'd have 12 typical students in the classroom," explained Pre-School Program Director Margie Hart.
Hart says that early education is worth saving. "Children who attend pre-school do better academically in school. They are much more comfortable in school, more motivated in school. They have less discipline issues, they are just more self-motivated," she said.
Students from the OCS program may be able to move to North Syracuse's early education program, although that district isn't sure it's program will last beyond next year due to funding issues of its own.
No final decision was made Tuesday night. The Board of Education says it needs to look at all the numbers before they can decide.
OCSD to consider plans to save early education
February 8
Nedrow (WSYR-TV) - The Onondaga Central School District will hold a special meeting Tuesday night to discuss potential plans for saving their early education program.
Unless school leaders find a way to pay for the program, it will end after this year. Current expenditures are $80,000 higher than revenues from tuition and government aid.
One of the options being considered would bring a private agency in to run the program.
The OCSD Board of Education meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the High School auditorium.
Early education programs dwindling for lack of funding
February 7
North Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - North Syracuse will likely be the only suburban school district in the county to have an early education program next year. Due to funding shortfalls, others have already closed or are in danger of closing soon.
Onondaga Central School District has decided it can’t afford to keep the program, unless they can find a way to save it.
Special education and other Pre-K students currently attend the early education program at OCS’s Rockwell Elementary School in Nedrow. In order to save the program, the district would need to find a solution that doesn’t spend more than it takes in. Currently, the program is spending more than it earns from tuition and from county and state aid for special education students. In fact, the problem has persisted for more than three years.
“That means our district can no longer support this program,” said Pre-School Director Margie Hart. “All of that revenue is not meeting our needs or our costs here.”
This year, Superintendent Joe Rotella says the program in OCS is spending $80,000 more than its taking in – and other districts are not immune to the same problem.
“Many schools had Pre-K programs and they have slowly gone to the wayside due to the cost,” OCS Superintendent Joe Rotella said.
Students from the OCS program may be able to move to North Syracuse’s early education program, although Superintendent Dr. Jerry Melvin says that is also in jeopardy. “We estimate 2011-2012 is OK, but once we get through 2012 that’s going to be very serious,” he said.
Dr. Melvin says the only way to secure the future of the early education program is if the state changes how much money it devotes to such programs. “If you aren’t going to get any rate increases, you’re not going to get any additional money from the state of New York, it’ll be impossible for the district to do that,” he said.
If early education students from other districts do come to North Syracuse, Dr. Melvin says he worries about whether his district will have sufficient space.
OCS hasn’t given up hope yet. They’re considering ways to keep the program open in some form, including having a private agency come in to take over.
The district plans to weigh its other options Tuesday Night at its regular board meeting scheduled for 7:00 in the OCS High School Cafeteria.
