New Suffolk’s Pre-K is Here to Stay

A pre-kindergarten program at a school with two rooms and three teachers might seem overwhelming.

But according to principal Bob Feger, the program is now a necessity in a district that predicts a significant , although New York State districts are not required to offer pre-kindergarten.

"We need to start thinking of the pre-k," Feger said at last month's school board meeting, where board members discussed the possibility of five new pre-kindergarten students enrolling in the district.

A series of meetings took place within the past month among New Suffolk's teachers, staff and parents. During these discussions the tiny district decided that with the additional efforts of newly hired teacher, , New Suffolk can accommodate for larger pre-kindergarten enrollment, Feger said.

New Suffolk Elementary School needed to devise a working plan for structuring the pre-k. Currently, the school utilizes a third classroom for remedial academics. For the 2011-12 school year, the teachers and staff will organize the larger pre-k enrollment from the already existing three classroom structure.

At last week's meeting, Board president Tony Dill remarked on the enthusiasm and creativity of New Suffolk's staff in brainstorming for this change. All in all, according to Dill, the solution was simple.

"What we're coming up with is something that really seems to be able to work across the board — not just with pre-k but for all the grades," Dill said.

During the November meeting, parents addressed whether or not pre-k will continue to be three days a week, as is the status quo. Parents and board members also discussed varying the hours of the pre-k class, which is currently a half day.