Classified Staff Early Childhood Benefit Classroom

Challenged by a nationwide workforce shortage and limited funding available to compete in attracting and retaining employees, Lawrence Public Schools used federal COVID-relief dollars to offer a new benefit to classified support staff -- a full-day early childhood educational readiness program for their three- and four-year-old children.

Jeremy Bloom, a network analyst in the district’s Technology Department, and his wife, Sarah, estimate that this benefit has saved their family $800 per month in expenses. Their daughter, Mira, attends preschool and receives meals, educational enrichment, and speech services at Kennedy Early Childhood Community Center while her parents work.

*Mira has thrived at preschool. She has awesome teachers and supports in the classroom. They genuinely care about her and her well-being. She comes home singing different songs and talking about things she’s learned during the day,” said the Blooms.

The Blooms added that this benefit has greatly reduced the amount of time and travel taken out of their workdays and created a smoother transition for their daughter. *One of the best parts has been watching Mira grow and seeing her excitement for school. It’s helped us feel more confident in sending her off to kindergarten,” they said.

The Classified Staff Early Childhood Benefit Classroom served 13 children this year and will be available to support staff employees again next year. The district is hiring classified staff. Apply at usd497. org/Apply and ask about this benefit.

THE DISTRICT IS HIRING CLASSIFIED STAFF APPLY AT USD497.ORG Apply