New Preschool Planned for Graham Campus
Emphasis will be on language, literacy programs for 40 low-income children
by Susan Hong
Mountain View Voice Staff
The Mountain View Whisman School District has approved tentative plans to open a small preschool on the Graham Middle School campus to benefit low-income families.
The preschool, which would take 40 children from the 94040 ZIP code, would open in January. It would be open three hours a day, and offer a program to help children develop literacy and language skills in English.
"We've applied, they're in the process of reviewing it, but we think we're going to get it," Assistant Superintendent Mary Lairon said last week, referring to the application process for county "Power of Preschool" funds.
The two teachers assigned to the preschool will ask families to engage in their child's development so that learning extends into the home. The district said it will enroll students based on a first-come, first-served basis, and currently has a waiting list.
Funds for the school are expected to come from a five-year, $1.4 million grant from the Power of Preschool project, which was started in 1998 thanks to tobacco-tax funds provided by Proposition 10, the measure promoted by Carl Reiner.
The money is expected to include a one-time $100,000 facilities grant and $256,000 in annual income, according to program officials, who expect to award the grant in a few weeks.
The funds are "primarily targeted to our high-risk, high-need areas," said Jolene Smith of First 5 California.
Mountain View's 94040 is one of six ZIP codes in Santa Clara County identified as having "at-risk" children and is eligible to receive state funds, a program official said. The "at-risk" designation takes into consideration income level, parent education, immunization rates and exposure to lead, she said.
The school will occupy a 1,400-square-foot classroom that will be remodeled and equipped with books, tricycles, balls and puppets, officials said. The district also plans to add 3,000 square feet of new playground space.
by Susan Hong
Mountain View Voice Staff
The Mountain View Whisman School District has approved tentative plans to open a small preschool on the Graham Middle School campus to benefit low-income families.
The preschool, which would take 40 children from the 94040 ZIP code, would open in January. It would be open three hours a day, and offer a program to help children develop literacy and language skills in English.
"We've applied, they're in the process of reviewing it, but we think we're going to get it," Assistant Superintendent Mary Lairon said last week, referring to the application process for county "Power of Preschool" funds.
The two teachers assigned to the preschool will ask families to engage in their child's development so that learning extends into the home. The district said it will enroll students based on a first-come, first-served basis, and currently has a waiting list.
Funds for the school are expected to come from a five-year, $1.4 million grant from the Power of Preschool project, which was started in 1998 thanks to tobacco-tax funds provided by Proposition 10, the measure promoted by Carl Reiner.
The money is expected to include a one-time $100,000 facilities grant and $256,000 in annual income, according to program officials, who expect to award the grant in a few weeks.
The funds are "primarily targeted to our high-risk, high-need areas," said Jolene Smith of First 5 California.
Mountain View's 94040 is one of six ZIP codes in Santa Clara County identified as having "at-risk" children and is eligible to receive state funds, a program official said. The "at-risk" designation takes into consideration income level, parent education, immunization rates and exposure to lead, she said.
The school will occupy a 1,400-square-foot classroom that will be remodeled and equipped with books, tricycles, balls and puppets, officials said. The district also plans to add 3,000 square feet of new playground space.