Stokes County board approves new Nancy Reynolds Pre‑K classroom to address 29‑child wait list

The Stokes County Schools board voted to add one NC Pre‑K classroom that will also be licensed to serve children with developmental disabilities (DDC) at Nancy Reynolds, a move presenters said would provide 12 new NC Pre‑K seats and reduce a district wait list concentrated on the West/Northwest side.

Miss Flippen and Susan Chaplin presented the recommendation, telling the board the district currently serves 127 preschool‑age students across school‑based and itinerant programs, has completed 39 formal special‑education evaluations this year, and served 103 preschool students with disabilities (61 in categories beyond speech‑only services). They said the Partnership for Children administers the NC Pre‑K spots for the county and that the district was allotted roughly 97 spots; staff reported about 10 of those assigned spots were unfilled because the district lacks classroom capacity.

The presenters said adding a DDC/NC Pre‑K classroom on the West side would make services more local for families now facing up to two‑hour one‑way EC bus trips for preschool services, and should be ready for licensing and Partnership approval by mid‑July if the board acts. Staff estimated a one‑time licensing and setup cost of about $15,000 (furniture, materials and minor upgrades) and said teacher and teaching‑assistant costs would largely be covered by state special‑education and NC Pre‑K funding; local supplements would apply to staff pay.

Board members pressed for additional detail on first‑year costs, projected revenue from the additional NC Pre‑K seats, and whether the site could reliably fill the 12 proposed spots; staff agreed to send a written estimate showing the potential revenue and local cost breakdown. Members also asked for student‑count reporting that shows unique students served (rather than course or section enrollments) and for outreach plans so the district reaches families who may not yet have applied through the Partnership for Children.

On the motion to add the classroom, a board member moved, a second was made, and the board approved the item in the action agenda. Staff will proceed with the Partnership application and licensing steps; the presenters said the district would notify families once the Partnership approves the site.

The action concludes with the board’s directive that staff return with a written estimate of year‑one costs, the staffing plan, and projected revenue from filled NC Pre‑K spots.