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Despite future financial concerns, a new early childhood/special education center is in Grain Valley’s future.
The Grain Valley Board of Education unanimously approved a $1.3 million bid, awarded to Rothwell Construction, for the construction of an early childhood center that would have a capacity for almost 130 students. Although no site has been specified for the facility, the district owns land just north of Pink Hill Road where the Central Office and future second middle school is located.
Of these funds, $679,000 comes in the form of federal stimulus monies that must be used on special education. In addition, the school district is eligible for an unspecified amount of 100-percent reimbursable special education funds from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Although it is unclear how much the district would receive, district officials estimate it to be as much as $350,000 to $400,000. This money would be reimbursed from the state over the next eight years.
The concern comes from the unstable state economic outlook. Board member Rusty Brown said he has concerns that the state will stop reimbursing the district after a couple of years, leaving the district holding the bag.
“We know the funding is there for $679,000,” he said. “I am not sure how comfortable I am spending anything over the $679,000 we know we have.”
But the issue is space. Currently, the early childhood/special education program resides in the basement of Prairie Branch Elementary. The four rooms it uses are quickly running out of space and some therapy takes place in the hallway. In addition, because of growth at the elementary level, Prairie Branch will soon need the space for its own students.
“We are really between a rock and a hard place,” board president Michael Hackett said. “We have got to have space for the (special education) kids because we need the space for our other elementary students. But the question is, will the funding be there?”
Debate dragged on for almost an hour on the issue, which included a 20-minute break. Board member Jan Reding said what it comes down to is the opportunity the federal stimulus funds provide and the need for more space for the district’s programs.
“The longer we put this off, the worse it is going to get,” she said. “We have a need now. I think we need to bite the bullet and keep the costs as reasonable as we can while we do it. We need to do this for our kids.”
Despite future financial concerns, a new early childhood/special education center is in Grain Valley’s future.
The Grain Valley Board of Education unanimously approved a $1.3 million bid, awarded to Rothwell Construction, for the construction of an early childhood center that would have a capacity for almost 130 students. Although no site has been specified for the facility, the district owns land just north of Pink Hill Road where the Central Office and future second middle school is located.
Of these funds, $679,000 comes in the form of federal stimulus monies that must be used on special education. In addition, the school district is eligible for an unspecified amount of 100-percent reimbursable special education funds from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Although it is unclear how much the district would receive, district officials estimate it to be as much as $350,000 to $400,000. This money would be reimbursed from the state over the next eight years.
The concern comes from the unstable state economic outlook. Board member Rusty Brown said he has concerns that the state will stop reimbursing the district after a couple of years, leaving the district holding the bag.
“We know the funding is there for $679,000,” he said. “I am not sure how comfortable I am spending anything over the $679,000 we know we have.”
But the issue is space. Currently, the early childhood/special education program resides in the basement of Prairie Branch Elementary. The four rooms it uses are quickly running out of space and some therapy takes place in the hallway. In addition, because of growth at the elementary level, Prairie Branch will soon need the space for its own students.
“We are really between a rock and a hard place,” board president Michael Hackett said. “We have got to have space for the (special education) kids because we need the space for our other elementary students. But the question is, will the funding be there?”
Debate dragged on for almost an hour on the issue, which included a 20-minute break. Board member Jan Reding said what it comes down to is the opportunity the federal stimulus funds provide and the need for more space for the district’s programs.
“The longer we put this off, the worse it is going to get,” she said. “We have a need now. I think we need to bite the bullet and keep the costs as reasonable as we can while we do it. We need to do this for our kids.”
