School board discusses preschool schedule changes

(ABC 6 News) – The Mason City school board met Tuesday evening to talk about potential preschool program changes for next school year.

The board is looking to grow enrollment numbers through changes like creating an all-day option that would go from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., instead of the current plan where there is morning and afternoon kindergarten.

“We’re pretty confident at this point that we can do it in a way that is at least cost neutral. Right now we’re busing kids in the middle of the day, so we’re busing kids home after the morning session and busing kids to school for the afternoon session and by cutting out that middle of the day busing we can save a considerable amount of money,” said Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Bridgette Wagoner.

The board also discussed extending preschool until 2:30 p.m. which is the latest it could let out for busing to still work with the other schools’ dismissal times.

Tuesday evening’s meeting was to present possible plans and will be discussed at further meetings.