Space for pre-K

Every month, I get a magazine from a group known as the National Institute for Early Education Research. The issue that came today has an article on Page 3 that asks an interesting question. Here is the title and drop head: "Pre-K's Big Question: Where Will We Put the Kids? As state-funded pre-k grows, finding enough space is one challenge. Having the right space in the right place is another."

Let's look at Cabell County, where in a few years free pre-K will be offered to everyone.

Last year, Cabell County schools had 1,076 kids enrolled in kindergarten but only 193 in pre-K. There were another 210 enrolled in early childhood classes. Don't ask me what the difference is. I will try to find that out before school starts back.

Anyway, of the 20 elementary schools in the county last year, 8 offered EC only, 4 offered pre-K only, 6 offered both and 2 (Martha and Meadows) had neither. How that will change as the state deadline for pre-K draws near and with Cammack and Miller consolidating, I have no idea. But if nothing else, it looks like the elementaries will have to find space for a lot of new kids in the coming years.