BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, N.J. –– This September, the State of New Jersey gave the Englewood Public School District a $1.4 million dollar grant that will allow it to offer pre-school classes for up to 60 students.
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The grant requires the Englewood Public School District to partner with a community organization to help the children of the community. The Bergen Family Center in Englewood partnered with the school district to house the influx of new students in their building on Armory Street. The center prepared four new classrooms to accommodate students, teachers and professional assistants beginning on Nov. 1. To date, over 30 4-year-olds have been registered.
“This grant provides an extension of the Englewood School Program, and it was very much needed, as we did not have room in the Donald A. Quarles Childhood Center for all the pre-K-4 children,” said Cheryl Balletto, business administrator for the Englewood Public Schools. “We had kids on a wait list, and now we can offer them this opportunity.”
To celebrate the opening of the new preschool classes, a ribbon cutting took place on Monday, Oct. 30 at the Bergen Family Center in Englewood.
“We are excited knowing that the earlier we can begin to educate children the greater the success of our next generation,” said Englewood School Superintendent Robert Kravitz. “I think it is the next step in a process to make Englewood a thriving community that cares about our children and fosters their future success.”
Kravitz hopes that this will be an annual grant.
Bergen Family Center CEO/President Mitch Schonfeld also hopes that the collaboration between the Bergen Family Center and the Englewood School System will be ongoing.
“This is a great opportunity for us to come together and share our resources,” said Schonfeld. “Kids in Englewood need to have opportunities for pre-K extension and we are happy to be able to provide the space here at the Bergen Family Center. These classes will give them an early start on academic achievement.”
Photo by Hillary Viders