ADAMS — The Hoosac Valley Regional School District has long faced challenges in funding its preschool programs. However, that is about to change.
A new $1 million grant from state funds will provide free all-day preschool to every child in Adams and Cheshire.
Last week, Governor Maura Healey’s office announced the latest round of Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative grants. The funding includes $1 million for Hoosac Valley, $316,000 for North Adams Public Schools, and $250,000 for Pittsfield Public Schools.
“This funding gives families access to high-quality, affordable preschool. It lowers costs and helps parents stay in or return to the workforce,” Healey stated in a news release.
Hoosac Superintendent Aaron Dean highlighted the positive impact of the funding, noting that it has allowed the district to unify its preschool curriculum across three locations: Hoosac Valley Elementary, the Youth Center in Cheshire, and Magic Seasons in Adams. Enrollment has surged, with 87 children now attending Hoosac Valley Elementary, compared to just 47 during the post-COVID period. Additionally, 20 students are at Magic Seasons and 15 at the Youth Center.
The grant is part of the Healey administration’s initiative to establish universal pre-K in Massachusetts. It focuses on making preschool free and full-day, and providing transportation for students who face transportation barriers.
“Before this funding, many families had to find their own pre-K options. Access was limited primarily to special needs programming,” Dean explained.
Last year, the district applied for funding to expand its preschool offerings and classrooms at Hoosac Valley Elementary. Initially, there was one classroom at the elementary school and two with community partners; now, the district has increased to a total of five classrooms.
“We’ve tripled, if not quadrupled, our capacity to serve pre-K students,” Dean noted. The district aims to grow its student and staff population in the coming years.
Dean, along with Associate Director Jacquelyn Daniels and Preschool Program Coordinator Shelley Fachini, emphasized that the funding will enable a significant expansion of staff. This includes training teachers and hiring professionals like speech and occupational therapy providers for special education.
Daniels and Fachini reported that the district has begun literacy training for preschool teachers. “It’s nice to finally have the funds to purchase recommended supplies instead of always making them ourselves,” Daniels added.
They anticipate more CPPI funding in the future. Consistent state support has allowed North Adams Public Schools, which has received a CPPI grant for at least five consecutive years, to implement similar programs that Hoosac is now building.
With decades of experience in special education and early childhood education, both Daniels and Fachini led the year-long planning and grant-writing process to secure the $1 million grant. Fachini emphasized the importance of early education for literacy and math skills.
“My dream has always been to create a transition year before kindergarten,” she said. “This funding will help children who need more time and support to be ready for school.”
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