St. Bernard Preschool To Use $25K Grant To Boost Marketing, Curriculum

Early learning builds the foundation for a child's educational career, according to St. Bernard Preschool Director Lisa Cook, and she feels blessed to have the chance to reach more kids throughout the community.

Last month, St. Bernard Parish’s Preschool received a $23,600 grant from Indiana’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, a division of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.

The preschool in Rockport was one of 12 grant recipients across the state, representing 29 pre-kindergarten programs. In total, more than $1.4 million in funding was awarded to early learning providers.

St. Bernard was the only local program south of Bloomington to receive funds.

Applicants were required to secure a percentage of matching funds from the community. St. Bernard Principal Beth Strodel applauded Cook and others for a “fabulous job” of contacting local businesses to raise the local funding support.

With the state grant of $23,600, plus $1,400 in local support, St. Bernard Preschool has $25,000 in funding.

“I am so proud of all that Lisa and the preschool staff have accomplished,” Strodel said.

The goal, according to state officials, is to help programs serve more pre-kindergarten children and increase the quality of early education opportunities provided throughout Indiana.

St. Bernard is currently operating under capacity, Cook explained. So a primary objective of the grant is to find ways to first fill capacity through new marketing initiatives.

“This grant funding will, in part, help us to better tell our story and attract more families to enroll their children in high-quality Pre-K,” Cook said.

The funds will also be used to purchase research-based curricula and new classroom materials; add additional program options; offer programming for family education and engagement; and provide professional development for staff.

St. Bernard Preschool is accredited by AdvancED, a nonprofit that conducts rigorous reviews, and is an Indiana Paths to Quality Level 4 program, the highest rating, Cook said.

“A strong early childhood education program can spark a child's enthusiasm for learning, which will facilitate a lifelong love of learning. … The preschool years are also crucial for building social skills needed to be successful in kindergarten and beyond,” she said.

Other counties that received capacity-building grants from the state are: Bartholomew, Newton, Monroe, Wayne, DeKalb, Porter, Madison, Marshall, Montgomery, Tippecanoe and Johnson.

The funding was appropriated in House Enrolled Act 1004, which Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law as part of his 2017 Next Level Agenda.