HERMANN — In a move that might be considered an act of self-preservation as well as advancing early childhood education, the Gasconade County R-1 School District board has approved the start this fall of a program serving 3-year-olds.

The decision to begin the program comes after several years of discussion regarding the expansion of early childhood education in the district. However, it was expedited somewhat by the more pressing need to keep several teachers on board, classroom instructors whose continued employment with the district was made less certain earlier this year when they learned their child-care provider was getting out of the business.

A survey in April of the R-1 staff revealed a need for additional quality childcare in the community with 92.7 percent of the 55 responses responding positively.

Seventeen of those responding have children of childcare age — from infancy to over 3 years of age. Based on the survey, there are teachers with five children from 2-3 years of age and teachers with five children over 3 years of age.

Hermann Elementary School Principal Kendra Brune said the teachers’ future with R-1 was made uncertain when they learned their day-care provider would no longer be providing that service. Limited day-care options are a concern in the Hermann community, as well as nationwide, and made only more critical during the coronavirus pandemic.

The first year of the program will be limited to a handful of 3-year-olds, perhaps no more than six. R-1 administrators hope to expand it to serve perhaps as many as 10 students in the 2022-23 school year.

In her report to the R-1 Board of Education at its regular session on May 13, Brune said the program would be tuition based only with a cost of $23 a day for 180 days for a total cost to parents of $4,140. The 180 days is the number of days a teacher is contracted to work in a school year.

The report shows that enrolling six children will generate $24,840 which is about $1,800 less than the $26,600 projected to be needed to pay the salary of a instructor with 60 hours of college credit or a paraprofessional certificate. Eight students would generate $33,120. In the second year, an enrollment of 10 children would generate an estimated $41,400.

The setting in an HES classroom will be play-based activities. Hours will be from 7 or 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The district has a program for 3- and 4-year-olds who have an IEP (Individual Education Plan), which is aimed at addressing specific learning issues. The new program will serve 3-year-olds who do not need an IEP, Brune said.