By Janine DavisRecord Staff WriterThe Wright City R-II Board of Education has given the green light for the district to begin building a dedicated preschool.With unanimous approval from the board, R-II Superintendent Dr. Chris Gaines said he would take the next step and immediately begin talks with an architect for what he described as a simple, functional, no-frills building that will cost approximately $900,000.Gaines said the building will be constructed between the central office and Open Hearts United Methodist Church on Bell Road north of Interstate 70.School leaders have discussed the project for some time. But as administrators studied costs and financing options, it became evident, officials said, that very little was standing in the way of getting started.The new building will house preschool, early childhood special education and Parents as Teachers programs.Gaines said the district would be able to cover the up-front building costs, but that 80 percent of the costs would be recouped from the state. No tax levy increase would be necessary, he said. Gaines anticipates operating costs of about $90,000, which would be partially offset by tuition revenue.“For all intents and purposes, there’s nothing stopping us from heading down this road tomorrow,” Gaines said.“In my mind, there’s an urgency for pre-K,” said Board Treasurer Mary Groeper, who is on the Missouri School Boards Association board of directors and reported on a recent meeting that covered Pre-K education extensively.“Other schools are having wonderful results from their pre-K programs,” Groeper said.“I’d like to see Pre-K groundbreaking today,” said Board President Alice Klem. “We’d love to have a new high school, but as long as this one is maintained and serviceable to our students, let’s use it while we can.”State of early childhood education in Missouri“While many school districts throughout the state have excellent early childhood education programs, too many children still do not have quality early childhood experiences,” said Missouri School Boards Association spokesperson Brent Ghan in a video presented during the meeting. “Study after study demonstrates how essential early childhood education is in making the transition to elementary school and for long-term school success.”A report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds that 63 percent of Missouri’s 3- and 4-year-olds in low-income families are not participating in preschool.Experts say that early investment in children’s education pays off in an academic boost and in learning to control emotions, saving in programs such as remedial reading and other Title I services. Research suggests that children who go through preschool are more likely to be successful throughout school and in their personal development, and less likely to enter into the juvenile justice system.Gaines said the new preschool will be the focus of a town hall meeting in the spring.R-II will build pre-school