Families are already lining up to put their children on a wait list for participation in the Festus R-6 Early Childhood Education Program, although it won’t kick off until August 2023.
The program is strictly for families living within the Festus R-6 School District. Services are for children ages 3-5.
Samantha Mouser, who serves as the program’s coordinator but is slated to become its director when it opens, said there already is a long wait list. She expects the program, which will be housed at 821 American Legion Drive (formerly the Wee Care Learning Center), to accommodate a little more than 100 children.
“As of today (Oct. 7), we have 252 kids on our wait list,” Mouser said. “We haven’t started offering enrollment yet.”
She said that step will probably occur in late March 2023.
Even with the already long list, Mouser said she tells those who inquire to put their children’s names on the wait list.
“If spots open (ahead of them), we’ll get them in the program,” she said.
Festus R-6 is starting its ECE program from scratch, never having had one before.
The district bought the Wee Care facility in December 2021 for $3.4 million from Wee 5, LLC. The purchase included the company’s 5-acre property, existing 20,460-square-foot building and all furnishings, including tables, desks and playground equipment.
The Festus R-6 Board of Education approved Mouser as the district’s ECE coordinator/director in February and she has been overseeing preparations for the program.
“The goal right now is to have six to eight teachers for the program,” she said. “We’re still deciding. Based on the numbers (of students in the program), we’ll decide how many teachers we will need. Board of Education members will decide.
“When we start, we will not be at capacity. We will be more than 100 – that’s guaranteed. We will continue to build the program every year.”
Kevin Pope, R-6 coordinator of communications and special projects, said district officials are focusing on meeting the need.
“We’re going to try to serve the most students we possibly can,” Pope said.
Families will pay a fee, although the amount has not been set.
“There will be a cost, but it has not yet been determined,” Pope said. “It will be affected by state funding and the number of students.”
In addition to preparing the building, the district is testing potential students, Mouser said.
“We’ve started screening students on our wait list,” she said. “Parents as Teachers are doing the screenings, which are held here (at the program facility).”
She said she has been studying existing ECE programs in the region.
“I have been going around to area Early Childhood Education centers and touring to see what is going to work for our community,” Mouser said.
Pope said facility renovations are continuing.
“There is still more work to be done,” he said. “No major renovations.”
The ECE program is for youngsters in the years leading up to kindergarten, ages 3-5, but with restrictions.
“(For the class starting in August 2023), they have to be 3 by July 31, 2023,” Mouser said. “That will be a factor on the wait list. If they (turn 5 on Aug. 1, 2023, or after) they will be eligible for this because they would be ineligible for kindergarten.”
The Festus R-6 program will offer morning and afternoon sessions Monday through Friday, with morning sessions from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and afternoon sessions from 12:30-3:30 p.m. The program will be offered during the school year, following the school calendar.
An ECE program is different from day care in that it is more education-oriented, Mouser said.
“It will be early childhood education and early childhood special education,” she said. “We are requiring the teachers to be dually certified. The curriculum will follow Missouri early childhood learning standards, called MELS.
“There will be a structured curriculum taught by certified teachers to ensure that students are kindergarten ready,” Mouser said.
For more information or to place a child on the wait list, call the R-6 Early Childhood Center at 636-465-0395 or visit the district website at festus.k12.mo.us.
