Posted on: Friday, September 28, 2001
Preschool program worries Board of Education
By Alice Keesing
Advertiser Education Writer
With 13 Pre-Plus preschools scheduled to open on public school campuses by next September, Board of Education members yesterday expressed concerns about the liability the schools could face.
The Pre-Plus initiative was launched by Gov. Ben Cayetano in the last legislative session with the aim of preparing low-income children for school.
The Legislature provided $5 million for the program for the next two years. That money will be used to put new facilities at DOE elementary schools to serve as Pre-Plus sites. The programs will be run by private providers such as Kamehameha Schools and Head Start, which already receive federal money.
Liz Chun, executive director of the Good Beginnings Alliance, told board members that studies have clearly illustrated the benefits of preschool.
"After three years, by the time the children reached third grade, they had achieved higher scores than comparison groups in reading and math," she said.
But members of the Board of Education regular education committee yesterday indicated that, while they fully support the push for more preschools, they are concerned about the possible burden that will be placed on the public schools.
Among their concerns: the preschools could compete with space for K-12 classes; they could take a principal's time away from other school needs; and they could take construction money from public schools, which have a multimillion dollar backlog of projects.
"I think this is a great program but it's something that we have to be very cautious about. ... If it's totally separate, that's fine, but I'm afraid it's going to creep on (to the department's budget) like everything else," said board member Karen Knudsen.
The board's biggest concern appeared to be the issue of liability. If a child is hurt at the preschool, can the department be sued, they asked. DOE facilities head Ray Minami said the answer is unclear, but that he would pursue it.
Kate Stanley, who is heading up the Pre-Plus program, said she is aware of the public schools' needs. She also pointed out that it is up to the individual principals to decide if they want a Pre-Plus program at their school and that many welcome the benefits that they bring.
