Chamber and education partners excited, encouraged by new Pre-K opportunities in Morgan County
RELEASE 15-012
The Decatur–Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with State Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur), the Chamber's Quality Education Committee, the Decatur/Morgan County Minority Development Association, The United Way of Morgan County, Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, Decatur and Hartselle City Schools, and Morgan County Schools applaud Gov. Robert Bentley's May 27 announcement about the awarding of five new "First Class" voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program classrooms to communities across Morgan County.
"The initiative to expand quality Pre-K in our community will provide opportunities for young people to be prepared for kindergarten that wouldn't otherwise have the chance," said Collins. "This effort could only happen with the collaboration of our school systems, the Chamber, community groups, faith communities, private citizens and area advocates for quality education.
"Children are our number one priority, and we should give them all the available tools to be successful. Early education programs like pre-k help do just that," she said.
Five new classroom will be implement in Morgan County:
- Cotaco Elementary School (Community Action Partnership classroom)
- Crestline Elementary (Hartselle City)
- Kings Memorial United Methodist Church Pre-K
- Lil Kidz Dayschool, Inc.
- Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Pre-K
Also, funding for two pre-k classrooms – Benjamin Davis Elementary (Decatur City) and Falkville Elementary (Morgan County) – was renewed for the 2015-2016 academic year. With the addition of five classrooms in 2013-2014 academic year, five classrooms in the 2014-2015 year and five classrooms for the 2015-2016 year, approximately 260 young people have voluntary access to Pre-K programming. Also, this was the first awards cycle where Pre-K will be delivered in Morgan County by an organization other than a school system or a HeadStart program.
For more information or to get involved in the Quality Education Committee, contact Mandy Price, the Chamber's director of workforce development, at (256) 353-5312.
Editor's Note - Rep. Terri Collins in available for further comment on this story. Please contact Grant Thompson, communications director for the Chamber, at (256) 353-5312 for Rep. Collins' contact information.
