County schools contract with day care center for new pre-K classes

Parents of Morgan County four year olds will have a new place to enroll their children for free pre-Kindergarten classes during the 2007-2008 school year.

School officials unanimously approved plans for the early childhood classes in a July 2 agreement with Doodlebugs Learning Station on Oakland Road in southern Morgan County.

According to the contract, the day care center will operate a separate pre-Kindergarten classroom for up to 18 children at their center. Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday for the 128 days of the official school calendar.

Teachers at Doodlebugs will follow the state's approved Creative Curriculum, with books and materials provided by the school board. Doodlebugs will receive $3,012 from county schools for each child enrolled in its pre-K classes. The contract amount is nearly equal to the state money that comes to Morgan County for each enrolled student.

As part of the agreement, Doodlebugs will provide breakfast, but not transportation to their facility in southern Morgan County.

Director of pre-K programs Terry Riley told the school board that this arrangement with a private day care center was the first of its kind in the county. He said Doodlebugs is the only certified day care center locally since Nikki's Day Care closed last year.

Riley will be in charge of evaluating Doodlebugs teachers and the learning environment, and on-site supervision will be the responsibility of Doodlebugs owners.

The Doodlebugs class site will be an addition to Morgan County's existing pre-Kindergarten programs at the former Great Cacapon Elementary, Widmyer Elementary and the RESA building in Berkeley Springs.

Parents interested in information about school opportunities for pre-Kindergarten age children should contact the local Head Start office at 304-258-5335 or Diane Ansari at 304-267-3595 ext. 119. There is no charge for the service and classes are open to any Morgan County children.