Making progress on an idea that has been discussed for more than a year, Coventry school officials have begun to plan for the reopening of Oak Haven Elementary School for use as an Early Learning Center.
Approximately $100,000 will be needed to reopen the school that was closed in 2009 - $50,000 of which would be immediately used for fire code upgrades. Changes and improvements will also be required to bring the building up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
At the March 26 Town Council meeting, during which school officials shared the fiscal 2013-2014 recommended operating and capital budgets, Superintendent Mike Almeida told Council members that the Early Learning Center would create a better environment for students and teachers district-wide. The environmental improvement would come in the form of additional instruction space as well as the ability to create computer labs in several schools, allowing the district to meet the ever-evolving state and federal technology standards and requirements.
"In some cases, we may have 3 to 6 teachers in a classroom for small group instruction and at times, the lack of space can compromise that instruction," Almeida explained. "By opening Oak Haven, we could start making space in our school buildings, not only for computer labs but also space for teachers."
Currently, the 2013-2014 plan provides that all students who qualify for Coventry's Pre-Kindergarten Program and reside within the school district will attend Oak Haven Early Learning Center.
For the 2014-2015 school year, Kindergarten students residing in the Blackrock, Hopkins Hill, Tiogue and Washington Oak school districts will attend the early learning center. Kindergarten students residing in the Western Coventry district will continue to attend Western Coventry Elementary School. The Western Kindergarten program will continue to be assessed to determine if keeping students at Western Elementary is optimal.
The attached two-year proposal provides an in-depth look at the goals and principles planned for the Oak Haven Early Learning Center.
Stay with Coventry Patch for additional Early Learning Center updates as they become available.