Harrisonville R‑IX Superintendent said the district has added preschool sections and currently is operating three full‑day 4‑year‑old classes and one 3‑year‑old class, with waiting lists for both.

At the board meeting the superintendent said, “We have 3 teachers. So we have 3 4 year old and 1 3 year old class,” and reported 54 total spots in the 4‑year‑old classes are filled with 11 on the waiting list and the 3‑year‑old class has a cap of 16 with seven on the waiting list.

The superintendent and staff said the district prioritized openings for staff members’ children but that priority will not change how the district counts students for state funding. “We do not receive per pupil funding for students,” the superintendent said. Staff explained the district can receive preschool ADA (average daily attendance) funding only for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch and that state rules limit the percentage of the district’s free‑and‑reduced population that may be counted.

Why it matters: the district is expanding preschool capacity as part of its CSIP work and curriculum goals, but state accounting rules limit how many preschool students the district may count toward ADA — which affects the amount of reimbursement available for preschool teacher positions.

Details and context

District staff said the state has expanded the allowable ADA count for preschool from 4 percent to 8 percent of a district’s free‑and‑reduced population. The superintendent gave the district’s free‑and‑reduced enrollment as 7,958 (spoken as “7 95 students” in the meeting) and said 8 percent of that population is “around 60 to 63 kids.” The superintendent added that current documented free‑and‑reduced preschool students number “between 30 and 40,” which the administration said would be the cohort that generates ADA funding.

Staff also described classroom supports and operational details: each preschool classroom will have a full‑time aide, 4‑year‑old classes are capped at 18, the 3‑year‑old class is capped at 16, and the district will not add further sections until enrollment numbers justify additional full‑time staff. The superintendent said administrators will reassess numbers in March and may return to the board with a proposal for an additional teacher if demand holds.

On tuition and eligibility staff said 3‑year‑old students pay tuition; 4‑year‑old students are typically covered by grants if they meet eligibility criteria. Staff noted that if a staff member’s child qualifies for free and reduced lunch, that child could be counted in ADA; otherwise the child would pay tuition.

Next steps and follow‑up

Staff said they will present a formal proposal to the board in March if enrollment and free‑and‑reduced documentation support adding staff or sections. The preschool handbook will be produced for families and provided at screening in May, the superintendent said.

Quotes

“We have 3 teachers. So we have 3 4 year old and 1 3 year old class,” — Superintendent.

“If they’re in the 4 year old program, we will have when we accept them, they are counted under our school. So that will not change that. We do not receive per pupil funding for students.” — Superintendent.

Authorities