Three area school organizations are teaming up to ensure London and Madison County students have access to high quality early education. The London City School District, Madison Champaign County ESC, and the Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities are working together to continue the current Fairhaven Preschool Program as well as look to expand in the future. The Madison County Board of Developmental Disabilities, which currently operates the Preschool Program at Fairhaven, is looking to streamline programming for adults and will no longer be the sole operator of the program. In order to ensure the success of this program expansion, the Board of Developmental Disabilities will continue to support the Preschool program through in kind services in the coming years.
The Fairhaven Preschool Program currently serves almost 50 students aged 3-5. Most of these students reside in the LCS district attendance area but over a dozen are from Madison Plains and just a few from other county districts. The partnership has been established not only to ensure that quality early childhood education remains available for Madison County families but also looking at ways to expand options for students currently not enrolled or on Preschool waiting lists.
The Joint Preschool Program will continue to be located at Fairhaven School. The program would, however, change from its current full day program to a four-day-a-week am/pm program similar to the Preschool programs the ESC and the London School District currently operate. Before, after, and extended day childcare opportunities will be available for participating families through the London City School’s Champions program. Both the ESC and LCS do not anticipate any immediate changes in operation with their current programs.
The remaining logistics of the transition are currently being planned. More information for families on the new program will be released at a later date.