Discussion continued at length during the Warren County R-III monthly school board meeting last Thursday concerning the urgent need to expand the district’s early childhood education center.A proposal had been brought to the board during February explaining how the enrollment is outgrowing the current facility being shared with the central office on the South Service Road in Warrenton. At that time board members requested administration return with a list of options.Assistant Superintendent Dr. Aaron Jones said the additional time allowed for clarification in a few areas, including funding reimbursement.“We want to stay within the allotted money that the state will reimburse, which is $70,000 per year,” explained Jones.Initially, one of the options being considered was relocating the central office and expanding the entire current facility to early childhood center use. However, any expenditures related to moving central office would not be reimbursable.“Moving the central office is not a viable option,” said Jones.With that in mind, the district is looking at alternatives. Some possibilities are prefab buildings, modulars or rehabbing an existing building. The district could also build a new facility on the acreage it owns north of Warrenton on Highway 47.“We need about 12,000 square feet in a decent location,” said Jones.With ambitions of having a larger space for the early childhood program by the start of the 2018-2019 school year, the district is also up against a time crunch. Jones said administration will revisit the board again in April with more details.“We’re going to dig a little deeper to see if we can’t get something more concrete on a price,” said Jones. “Hopefully we will have at least a couple really good solid options for the board.”

The Warren County R-III Early Childhood Education Center is in need of an expansion of both personnel and space. Administrators are considering the option of either relocating or adding to the existing space. 

Record photo/Derrick Forsythe