After months of anticipation and open discussions with the public at various board meetings, Mediapolis Elementary School announced that it would start state-wide voluntary preschool on Monday, May 6th, with a Board work session.
Mediapolis was recently approved for a statewide voluntary preschool program for the 2024–25 school year by the Iowa Department of Education. “This achievement is a testament to our community's active participation and communication that we can do more. I am thankful for the board of directors' support throughout this process. Currently, 99.3% of Iowa schools have a preschool program. For many reasons, we felt it was time to take the next step for our school district.” Adam Magliari, the Superintendent, replied.
Mediapolis school district applied for preschool through an application process to the Iowa Department of Education as soon as it opened up with the state this spring. Mrs. Gunn, the new elementary principal, and Mr. Magliari have diligently researched this issue since her arrival in January. Mrs. Gunn, the principal of Mediapolis Elementary, stated, “We have been working on this plan for four months. Mr. Magliari and I have had several presentations to the public and School Board regarding starting a preschool. We aim to have inclusive and equitable access for every child coming into school to prepare them for kindergarten, setting them up for a successful academic journey.” Mr. Magliari stated, “We are pleased to have Mrs. Gunn as our new principal at Mediapolis Elementary School and fortunate to have a teacher with the necessary endorsement and a willingness to embark on this journey together with us.”
In further discussion with Mr. Magliari, he stated, “This is just the beginning for us. We hope to expand our early childhood even more. We are looking at adding more space to the elementary school in the future to have the opportunity to do so.”
The Mediapolis school district is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year. They will have a section in the morning and the afternoon. A letter was sent home to all families on Tuesday, and the application was also posted on their website and social media outlets. The district did say space was limited, and if families are interested, they need to sign up as soon as possible.