The North Mahaska School Board Tuesday night approved by 3-0 votes two grant applications requesting more than $160,000 for the proposed North Mahaska Early Childhood Education Center.

One grant request is for $10,915 from the Mahaska County Community Foundation for playground equipment for children enrolled at the education center. The total cost of the age-appropriate playground equipment is estimated at $25,000.

“While a playground already exists at the school, none of the existing equipment is developmentally appropriate for 2 to 4 year olds,” states the grant request. “Early childhood standards require age-appropriate equipment that is an important part of the educational program for younger children.”

The remainder of the cost for the playground equipment would come from the school district and a grant applied for from the North Mahaska Education Foundation.

The application indicates construction on both the education center and playground equipment would be completed by Oct. 1.

The second grant request is in the amount of $149,760 from the Iowa Department of Education for costs associated with the preschool program at the proposed education center.

More than half of the amount requested from the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program would be devoted to teacher salaries. Approximately $61,000 of the grant would be used to pay benefits, employee travel, professional development, supplies and materials, equipment, contracted services and transportation.

The grant application shows two classrooms devoted to the preschool program, which will serve up to 45 children 4 years of age.

“Currently, students in the existing community preschool are being served in a church by a noncertified instructor,” states the grant application. “Although the parents and community are happy with the current preschool program and services it provides, it is clear from our needs assessment and participation in public forums regarding current preschool programming that there is a desire from our community partners to expand the existing program to a level that will meet Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards, provide equitable access to all children and families regardless of socio-economic status, and include transportation to preschool programming.”

The North Mahaska Early Childhood Education Center is a joint project with the North Mahaska School District, Share ‘N’ Care Preschool and Sunshine and Smiles Day Care. The day care will operate in the new building as a separate entity with its own board and director and beginning next year, the preschool will be operated by the school district.

The proposed preschool and day care center would serve children from birth to age 4 of parents who live in the North Mahaska area.

Herald City Editor Michael Schaffer can be reached by email at mschaffer@oskyherald.com