Pre-School Sequester

VINCENNES, IND. (WTHI) -      A faith based pre-school project in southern Indiana may be expanding before it ever opens.

     Last year the First Christian Church in Vincennes purchased the empty Washington Elementary School with plans to turn part of it into a pre-school academy.

     With budget cuts now hitting head start programs the church leaders are looking at the possibility of making the academy available to even more kids.

     The sign outside isn't the only thing new at the old Washington Elementary in Vincennes.

     The First Christian Church is giving the old building the once over getting ready to open its pre-school academy.

     Officials say that one third of the kids entering kindergarten in Vincennes did not attend any pre-school.

     "Seeing the need, that's what we are willing to address," said Reverend Rick Grant of the First Christian Church, "but the sequester now has opened the door and when there is less money that means there may be less opportunity for kids and that means there's a need for even more children to have the opportunity to attend pre-school."

     The pieces are coming together to create 4 rooms for pre-school classes that will be open to kids who come from all kinds of families.

     "There will be slots for persons who can pay the full tuition each month and then there will be merit scholarships based on a sliding scale," said Reverend Grant.

     Officials say they have plenty of space to expand their pre-school operation, but the big question is whether there will be enough money from the community to keep those little learners in class.

     "In order to help more kids I'm going to have to have more public donations for scholarships," he said.

     That will put one more challenge in front of this new pre-school as it tries to fill a hole in early childhood education in Vincennes.

     To find out more about the Washington Christian Center and the Pre-school Academy you can go to www.washingtonchristiancenter.com .