Columbus City Schools superintendent touts expanded pre-K offerings as school year begins

Columbus City Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman said she is excited the district was deepening its investment into improving education and facilities over the summer before school begins Wednesday for students.

In an interview with The Dispatch, Chapman said the district had made substantial investments into improving early childhood and math education, as well as a host of capital improvements from across the district over the summer.

Chapman looking forward to capital improvements, expanded pre-K

Chapman highlighted the improvements done over the summer to dozens of CCS buildings, many funded by the 7.7-mill levy approved by voters last November. Among other work, the district performed major renovations at the gym and auditorium at Mifflin High School, made improvements to classrooms and the media center at Scottwood Elementary and installed over a dozen new playgrounds at elementary schools, The Dispatch previously reported .

Chapman said the source of funding will be a "game-changer" for the district.

"As a district, this is the first time that we've had a recurring source of revenue to be able to, you know, schedule and plan how we're going to replace, repair, refresh our fixed assets, and so it is definitely exciting," Chapman said. "It's a game-changer, and it's well-deserved."

Of the nearly $100 million annually generated by the levy approved by voters, more than $60 million per year is earmarked for maintenance and upkeep of the district's more than 110 school buildings, The Dispatch previously reported .

Chapman also said CCS has expanded pre-Kindergarten education in six classrooms across the district, adding capacity for 100 students. The district currently serves over 2,200 kids in pre-K.

"We are doing a phenomenal job of providing early childhood services," Chapman said. "All of our early childhood programs are highly rated based on the star rating system from (the Ohio Department of Education), so we have the opportunity to expand those offerings to more families."

Chapman said it is her goal to work not just with the district, but with city and community partners to continue expanding CCS pre-K programs to ensure students are on the right track when they reach kindergarten.

"We know that when we give them that early start, it certainly helps to close and mitigate some of the barriers and challenges that we experience when they don't have that head start," Chapman said.

Chapman said her administration is focusing once again on the three main board goals of improving early literacy, math and graduation rates.

"Those are the three areas that we want to have a laser-like focus on — improving student outcomes is our main priority," Chapman said.

Could CCS grow this year?

According to information presented at the August board meeting, CCS enrollment was sitting at more than 47,000 students, a potential approximately 1,000-student increase from the previous school year. However, Chapman stressed that those numbers are preliminary, and do not factor in unenrollments or internal or external transfers.

Chapman said the true size of the district this school year should come into clarity around October.

"As a superintendent, I'm always anticipating an increase in student enrollment," Chapman said. "Our enrollment has increased over the last year, and I'm certainly hopeful that it continues to increase."

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City Schools superintendent touts expanded pre-K offerings as school year begins