The Kuna Church of the Nazarene has partnered with the Kuna School District to provide preschool education for local families. On Sundays, the church’s education facility is used for Sunday school, but on weekdays, it becomes My Place Preschool, where Kuna Early Learning, a nonprofit, provides pre-kindergarten education.

Partnership Details

The preschool’s director, Denise Macaluso, works for the church but spends most of her time on preschool-related activities. She meets with Ludee Vermaas, Kuna Early Learning’s executive director, every month to discuss scholarships, professional development for teachers, and other matters.

Through scholarships, some families can pay $350 a month for preschool instead of the standard $700. The preschool operates from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and also offers kindergarten preparation by requiring parents to attend three trainings a year.

Funding Challenges

Idaho is one of six states that do not fund preschool, so districts have to rely on private grants, federal grants, and in-kind donations. Vermaas applies to around 15-20 grants a year and may get four or five. The preschool had to stop offering free lunch due to budget constraints.

Vermaas hopes to build an upgraded outdoor recreation facility, but the $700,000 construction cost is a significant challenge. She also aims to increase special education integration, with a goal of having 50% special education and 50% general education students.

The Kuna School District has made early learning a priority, and the partnership with the church has helped improve kindergarten readiness. The district’s investment in early learning has shown positive results, with a 20% improvement in kindergarten readiness in the first few years.

Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.