Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — State funding cuts have prompted Indiana State University to close a preschool program it offers at Franklin Elementary School.
The program will close in early May at the conclusion of ISU’s academic year.
The preschool, operated by the Bayh College of Education, serves about 40 children between the ages of 3 and 5 with half-day programs. Families from the ISU community and community at-large have used the program.
The preschool’s closure is part of ISU’s previously announced budget reduction plan made necessary by a $10.5 million cut in state funding for the 18-month period ending June 30, 2011. The closure will result in the elimination of two full-time and two part-time positions.
“We regret that the closure of the preschool was necessary and want to give parents as much notice as possible so that they can make other arrangements,” said Brad Balch, dean of the Bayh College of Education.
The half-day preschool has not generated sufficient revenue to break even and the college’s pre-service education students do not use the program, Balch said.
“Consistent with the university’s strategic plan, cuts have been made in the college’s budget in areas that will have the least impact on experiential learning and academic research,” Balch said. “These opportunities exist at the Child Care Center, which provides a more broad-based educational and child development program.”
The college’s Child Care Center at University Apartments will remain open and continue to provide comprehensive care and education for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age while also serving as a teaching laboratory for ISU’s early-, elementary- and special-education students.
The Child Care Center serves about 70 students with full-day programs. Both facilities are part of the fully-accredited ISU Early Childhood Education Center.
The half-day preschool program had no waiting list and was often under-enrolled, Balch said.
The preschool program was formerly offered in University Hall and had to be moved once renovation of that building began to house the College of Education.
“This was intended to be a temporary placement, and the Vigo County School Corp. was very generous in offering classroom space at Franklin,” Balch said.
ISU provided about 15 scholarships each year so that students from the Franklin community could attend the pre-school program.
“I’m sure that was a great service to them,” said Gail Gottschling, director of ISU’s Early Childhood Education Center. “We have encouraged families to look into Head Start.”
Dan Tanoos, Vigo County School Corp. superintendent, said that ISU – along with other state colleges and public school systems – is facing state funding cuts. “They have to make decisions based on what they think is in the best interest of their budget,” he said.
ISU informed him about a month ago about the possible elimination of the preschool program at Franklin.
“You never want to see a program go away, but I understand they have to cut somewhere and this is one they put on the chopping block,” he said.
The scholarships to children in the Franklin community “was very beneficial to those students,” he said.
The Vigo County School Corp. is not in a position to fund the program, Tanoos said. “We’re losing $4.5 million. We’re working on trying to ensure we don’t have to cut employees.”
Any new program would have to be self-sustaining, he said.
ISU officials say that those families affected by the preschool closing should contact Community Alliance and Services for Young Children (CASY) at (812) 232-3952 or visit the alliance’s Web site, www.casyonline.org.
CASY provides child care resources and referrals in conjunction with the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral and the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
