By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The inside of the new Little Panthers Preschool located just off the 281 Bypass in Great Bend is taking shape. USD 428 Director of Teaching and Learning Joann Blevins said at Monday's board of education meeting that other aspects of the program are also being shaped. Tandi Mai was named the new principal of the facility, and the Little Panthers Building Leadership Team comprised of teachers in the program currently split between three locations, is making progress to unify the program under its one new roof.
"They are really focused on, right now, building that core curriculum, taking those three separate programs, and bringing that together," Blevins said. "We've all been teaching the same curriculum but it might have slight nuance at each site. We want to get that more in line under one way of thinking."
Along with the curriculum, there are the physical aspects of each classroom. Blevins presented renderings of what furniture might be included in each classroom. The goal is to use existing furniture and new furniture to make each room look and feel the same. Cubbies and cabinets that will be built in each room may reduce the current price tag of $165,000 for the new furniture. Lakeshore Learning Materials will provide the brunt of materials and installation work.
"They call it their white-glove service," Blevins said. "We schedule a time when the truck or trucks arrive. They bring in a whole team of people. They take the drawings we helped them figure up. They unload the truck, they assemble all the furniture, they unpack all the boxes, place it in all the classrooms for us. If we want moved two inches to the right, they'll move it two inches to the right. They clean up all of it and they walk away. The teachers can walk right into their classroom."
Also at Monday's meeting, Superintendent Khris Thexton announced a new capital campaign to help raise funds for the equipment. Donations of any amount will be accepted, but a suggested donation of $10,000 will sponsor a classroom for decades of learning. The USD 428 Education Foundation will match the first $20,000 raised.