Expansion and Tuition Increase Planned at Maplewood Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center

The Maplewood Richmond Heights Board of Education on Thursday approved the addition of a new preschool classroom and an increase in rates for two district programs.

The new classroom would be staffed by one full-time teacher and two part-time aides at a cost of $89,875. The classroom is expected to serve 20 students and to generate $89,915 in revenue, representing a $40 profit for the district.

The existing half-day classroom at the (ECC) will be converted to a full-day classroom, and the seed-to-table classroom will become the half-day classroom, Principal Cyndi Hebenstreit said.

“What I’m hoping is that by adding another classroom, we’re going to have fewer families that are brand new to us coming into kindergarten,” Hebenstreit said. “We will be able to serve them in our preschool program.”

The board also unanimously voted to increase the daily tuition fee at the preschool by 7 percent, from $28 to $30, and to increase the tuition for its before-school and after-school programs by 7 percent. The before-school program would increase from $70 per month to $75 per month, and the after-school program from $110 per month to $118 per month. Additionally, a registration fee of $25 for one child and $35 per family will be charged for the before- and after-school programs.

Kay Lesley, chief financial officer for the district, said the increases will align the distrct's fees with those that other area programs are charging. She said she expects the district to break even after the increases.

Board member Ben Stotler said that in the future, he would like to see smaller annual increases out of concern for district parents. 

In other action, the board:

• Recognized wrestlers Lavon Clark, Montel Maggitt and Eduardo Verdia, who qualified for the state wrestling tournament.

• Recognized MRH High School chemistry students Kailey Hagar, Daniel Jamrozik, Krystal Peterson and Mioshi Scott for taking second place in the recent Battle of the Burettes chemistry contest.

• Recognized Chess Team members Mason Kramer, Aiden Reinhold, Freeman Reinhold and Gavin Vilcek for placing third in the state chess championship.