The district currently houses 11 Pre-K classrooms across our elementary schools. Sallie Cone would be transitioned to house all of these Pre-K classrooms. This centralization would provide great opportunities for better service to these Pre-K students and would lead to a better overall program. The transition would not occur until the fall of 2012.

Where will the bus hub be for kids who live in the downtown area?
That has not yet been determined. The answer may not be clear until the spring of 2012.

Can other elementary schools absorb the kids at our school without building a new elementary school? 
Given our current population of students, the answer is yes. When the eleven Pre-K classrooms spread throughout our district are brought to Sallie Cone, there would naturally be empty classrooms made available where Pre-K had been. If the district continues to grow, there will certainly be the need for additional classroom space.

Why isn't the new elementary becoming the Pre-K center?
The primary reason is that the state will not contribute funding for the construction of a Pre-K center. They will contribute for an elementary school. The state would be responsible for providing our district several million dollars if we construct an elementary school. The state would give us nothing for a pre-k center.

What will happen to the teachers at Sallie Cone? 
Every teacher and staff member will have a job in this district the following year. If a new elementary school is constructed and opened in 2012, they would naturally be assigned to that building. If it is not constructed, we would guarantee that each of them would have a position somewhere in the district.

Are the jobs secure for all employees of Sallie Cone? 
Absolutely.

Where are the special education self-contained classes going to go? 
That has not yet been determined. In all likelihood, that decision will not be made until the spring of 2012. That decision is determined by several factors such as transportation, room availability, and students in need of that placement. We would have to wait until closer to 2012 to determine their placement.

When we redistribute Sallie Cone kids, will class limits apply?
Yes. State standards for the number of students in a classroom will be followed.

Will the funding follow students to the schools where they end up attending? Will there be a financial burden on other schools?
Funding for students is based on the number of students in a particular school. Funding for supplies, textbooks, etc. will follow the student to their new school.

Is there any way possible we can be forced to put our kids in Mayflower if we live right on the district line?
Absolutely not.

What about children who are on waivers?
After rezoning is complete, parents will be able to apply for waivers at that time.

What about Kindergarteners that start next year or the next? Won't they be making extra transitions?
Yes, that is true. But that will be true any time the district redraws the attendance zones for elementary.

Why don't we re-do Sallie Cone?
We could do that but the cost for renovation per square foot is significantly greater than the cost for new construction.

Is this the only plan the district could come up with? Have we exhausted every measure? 
The Rezoning Committee from our 10 Year Planning process looked at several plans and felt that this was the best option. We agree.

How much overlap exists between kids in pre-k and adult education participation by their parents?
We will insure that the building has appropriate doorways and barriers so that there is only secured access between sections. For those parents with pre-k children who are interested in taking adult education classes, a great opportunity will be afforded them.

How will kids be bussed there?
The district does not provide bus transportation to pre-k students.

Who qualifies for this school?
Students whose parent's income is at 200% or below of poverty level.

Why Sallie Cone?
Sallie Cone has a rich history of excellence. However, if one elementary building is to be repurposed into a pre-k center, it is logical for that one building to be Sallie Cone based on the economic conditions surrounding that building since economics is the first determining factor when enrolling a student in pre-k.

I am concerned that traffic may be a big problem with the present access.
Traffic will be a concern that we must address by perhaps staggering the time that parents may drop their child off.