A new partnership between the Sonoma Valley Unified School District, North Bay Children’s Center and the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation is bringing the district one step closer to achieving its ambitious goal of offering free or low-cost “preschool for all.”
When the doors to the North Bay Children’s Center at Prestwood Elementary School open on Jan. 4, every elementary school in Sonoma Valley will offer an onsite preschool, with the exception of the Dunbar School in Glen Ellen which is currently under consideration for a pre-K program.
“We estimate that more than 80 percent of our kindergartners now come in having had some preschool, up from 50 percent just five years ago,” said Maite Iturri, principal of El Verano. Iturri explained that most communities will never actually get to 100 percent either because some parents simply don’t want their child in school before kindergarten or they can’t make the typical half-day schedule work for their family.
Whether the funding is provided by the district, by the Education Foundation, by the county or by the state, these Sonoma Valley preschools (interchangeably called pre-kindergarten) are offered free to parents, or at a low cost based on a sliding scale.
This is the Novato-based nonprofit North Bay Children’s Center’s first location in the Valley and seventh in Sonoma County.
According to program director Kim Mulis, North Bay Children’s Center is unique in its academic, school readiness focus. “We align our curriculum with what the host school uses,” she said. “We meet with the kindergarten teachers to collaborate and ensure that we are preparing the preschoolers with the specific skills they need to be successful in that school’s kindergarten classroom. Students in Sonoma can now attend preschool onsite at the campus where they will attend elementary school. That continuity of care is invaluable.”
Iturri has played a pivotal role in the preschool for all initiative in the district and has seen the positive impact on the elementary schools. “Our students who are English language learners all used to come in as beginners and now, thanks to preschool, we are seeing more of them come in at a higher level which gives them a much greater chance of success in elementary school.” Iturri said that the district is collecting and analyzing data on the long-term academic performance of children who attend preschool versus those who do not.
“Increasing the number of children who are ready for school and who are proficient in math and English is a shared community concern that requires multiple actions at the individual, family and community level,” said Susan Gilmore, NBCC executive director.
The open and colorful new Prestwood preschool, located on the southeast corner of campus, will offer two back-to-back three-hour sessions. Each session will enroll 16 children five days a week. The morning session will run from 8 to 11 a.m., and the afternoon from noon to 3 p.m. Children must live in the Prestwood school attendance area and priority will be given to those income eligible families and siblings of current students at the school.
Sonoma Valley Unified School District superintendent Louann Carlomagno is all smiles about the fact that Sonoma Valley will greet 2016 with a few dozen more students enrolled in preschool. “Expanding access to preschool has been a top priority for me since coming on board as superintendent,” said Carlomagno. “Preschool paves the way for long-term success in school for our youngest students, who will now be far more likely to enter kindergarten ready to succeed.”
As of press time, a handful of spots remained open. Parents who are interested in applying or learning more can reach NBCC enrollment specialist Silvia Soto at 763-2000 or Kim Milus at 935-6030.
Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.
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