May 13, 2024
Dear JLAS District Staff and Families,
Preschool education has long been an integral part of the JLAS district, overseen by NEMCSA. However, due to ongoing staffing challenges, NEMCSA will no longer be staffing a Great Start Readiness Preschool (GSRP) and will solely operate a Head Start program in the Lewiston building.
Recognizing the critical importance of early learning, the JLAS Board of Education, alongside our administration and staff, is diligently working to establish preschool programs in both buildings to cater to our preschool population.
Establishing these programs is not without its complexities. Specific state and federal requirements must be adhered to in order to secure funding for the programming.
In the upcoming weeks, the district will be announcing job postings for positions within the preschool program. Each program will require a lead teacher and an aide. The viability of the program hinges on our ability to secure adequate staffing. Conversely, the positions will be established based on the enrollment we receive. We will need to have enough students register to ensure the district can afford to operate the program.
We are deeply committed to realizing this project and continuing our mission to provide exceptional educational opportunities for our students. To this end, we are maintaining our partnership with NEMCSA to ensure families have access to enriching learning experiences, laying the foundation for their journey as outstanding JLAS students.
We ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate the intricacies of establishing preschool programs. We encourage families with preschool-aged children to enroll in our programs at www.copesdpreschool.org. Job postings will be shared on our website, and we urge you to spread the word within our community so that we can collectively provide outstanding opportunities for our students.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
Your Partner is Education,
Katy
Katy Xenakis-Makowski, Superintendent