Round Lake schools closer to opening new pre-kindergarten program

Officials at Round Lake Area School District 116 are getting closer to opening a preschool program for up to 80 3- and 4-year-old children.

Janet Elenbogen, chief education officer for the district, told the board Thursday night the program will be located in an unused wing of a Christian school in Round Lake.

Using a $254,600 grant from the state, the district will rent two classrooms at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran School at 420 Greenwood St., Elenbogen said.

The district has already screened 80 children for the program, she said, and two teachers and two assistants will be hired to administer the program.

Minor modifications are being made to the area of the building where the classrooms are located, she said, and the program should be able to begin by the end of the month.

"This is something the community has needed for some time," Elenbogen said. "We believe it will make a significant educational impact."

A contract calling for the district to pay $1,200 per month for rent on the classrooms is expected to be presented to the board Nov. 15.

The grant money will also be used to pay the cost of transporting children to and from the program, which Elenbogen said will have morning and afternoon sessions.