By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
Great Bend's school district is on track to open the Little Panthers Preschool at the start of the next school year in August. The preschool is an extension of Eisenhower Elementary School. It will be housed at the First Congregational Church of Christ on 21st Street where the District's Head Start program was located until it closed in 2019.
JoAnn Blevins, the Principal at Eisenhower, told the USD 428 Board of Education on Monday that she has been getting help from the church in furnishing the Little Panthers facility.
"They have furniture," Blevins said. "Some of it was left behind by Head Start. Some of it is theirs, and they have been very generous to say if you can use any of it, please do."
The preschool will welcome the three and four-year-old children of USD 428 employees for full-day preschool at a cost of $80 per week. If space is available, other children will be allowed to attend half-day preschool at no charge.
A $40 enrollment fee will be charged. The facility is expected to serve up to 48 children.