NEW LEXINGTON — Kara Wente, director of the Ohio Department of Children & Youth, visited Perry County on Sept. 18, to view the pre-school and Cub Academy programs for New Lexington Schools. Wente arrived at the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center (MVESC) on Airport Road at 10 a.m. where she was given a tour of the Cub Academy after introductions were made by New Lexington superintendent, Casey Coffey.
At stake for New Lexington Schools is a portion of competitive grant moneys that will become available for 15 Southeastern Ohio counties. When Perry County did not appear on the original list of 15 counties, Coffey submitted a speaker request form to the Department of Children & Youth that invited Director Wente to see firsthand the impressive pre-school program in place at New Lexington Schools.
Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Children & Youth Jeff Van Deusen accompanied Wente on the visit that included several New Lexington administrators and teachers as well as David Couch, superintendent of the Perry County Board of MRDD and Amy Frame, the newly appointed director of Perry County Job and Family Services. Connie Altier, superintendent of the Tri-County Career Center, and Kelly Coffey of Muskingum University also attended the presentation.
Lisa Gormley, preschool administrator at the MVESC, provided an in-depth description of the pre-school and Cub Academy for Wente as the group moved from room to room at the MVESC prior to the group traveling to their next destination.
The next stop on the visit was Junction City where another pre-school program is in operation. Maggie Cannon is the principal at Junction City Elementary (JCE). Following the visit to the JCE pre-school classes, Wente, Van Deusen, Perry County administrators, and guests participated in a question/answer session held in the school library.
Casey Coffey and New Lexington Treasurer Dave Rupe opened this period talking about the need to begin teaching literacy skills “early and often.” Casey added another factor that directly affected the teaching force at New Lexington.
“Our teachers are forced to make difficult choices as they begin their own families,” stated the superintendent. “We lose teachers on maternity leave for months while some choose to become stay-at-home mothers, and we lose that teacher permanently.”
Rupe added that the New Lexington pre-school program is “a great experience for the kids and parents.” He further stated that the school system’s goal is “embrace the community so their children become Panthers from birth to graduation.”
“We’re talking about a collaboration and weaving of funds between our schools, the MVESC, Tri-County Career Center, the JFS, and the Perry County MRDD to develop early literacy and childcare,” noted Casey. “We believe we have a plan that can be replicated across our county and beyond.”
With the turnout of so many school and agency leaders as well the outstanding input from every Perry County speaker, Wente was duly impressed by the presentation.
“It’s refreshing to see all of you so interested in early childcare,” stated Wente. “It’s not like this everywhere.” She added that it is great to hear about successful school programs but there’s “nothing better than seeing it.”
Coffey sees the expansion of early childcare in Perry County as more than an affordable babysitting destination. He believes this service can promote early literacy among children and become an economic boost for Southeast Ohio’s workforce. The decision of whether or not New Lexington Schools will receive an early childcare grant is yet to be determined.
One thing is certain. Director Kara Wente witnessed a successful early childhood program in action. She also met the dedicated professionals behind it. She just may have caught a glimpse of an early childcare program that could be a blueprint for the 15 counties competing for the pre-school grants.
Submitted by New Lexington Schools
Local News
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