BonnerSprings.com

There's a new resource for parents in the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville School District.

Six months ago the school board voted to sign up for the waiting list for Kansas Parents as Teachers, an early-learning program funded by the U.S. Department of Education that provides education for parents of children up to 3 years old.

Now, the program is in swing and all that remains is to spread the word so that more parents can take advantage of its offerings.

That was the central message of Parents as Teachers representatives Donna Higbee and Bobbi McClellan at the board's Tuesday meeting.

The Parents as Teachers Program is run out of the Northeast Kansas Education Service Center in Lecompton, and includes visits by parent educators who teach and answer questions about children's physical and mental development, regular developmental screenings to measure children's progress and help identify potential problems, vision screenings and a resource network to help parents find other services in their community.

Higbee and McClellan said the 12 families who had enrolled in the program had heard about it through word of mouth and referrals. The program is contracted to provide services for up to 27 families, they said, and is open to all families.

Parents of children younger than 3 and soon-to-be parents can sign up by sending an e-mail to Cammie Braden at cbraden@nekesc.org or calling her at (785) 887-6004.

In other actions, the board:

¢ Approved payment of warrants for $265,410.

¢ Approved payment of construction bills for $8,890.

¢ Approved new contracts for Marsha Canaday, high school accompanist; Vicki Sprenkle, Edwardsville Elementary media and lunch aide; Cheryl Sawyer, McDanield Learning Center daycare; Tammy Berry, Head Start teacher; Guadalupe Rosales, Head Start aide; and Kerry Stumbough, Head Start teacher.

¢ Approved renewed contracts for Heather Marmon, Clark Middle School, and Kim Wendt, McDanield daycare.

¢ Approved the resignation of Renea Kirby, school nurse.

¢ Held an executive session to discuss land acquisition and personnel matters.

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