April 10, 2007- For Immediate Release
Columbia County Schools – 4781 Hereford Farm Road, Evans, GA 308092
For more information contact 706-541-2723 ext. 5202

Pre-K Drawing Delayed at River Ridge Elementary School

Parents Given an Opportunity to Speak Before the Board

This news release is to notify employees and parents of River Ridge Elementary that the Pre-K drawing scheduled later this afternoon will be delayed to give parents an opportunity to speak before the Board at tonight’s 5:30pm meeting.

“We originally scheduled a redrawing immediately after spring break so parents would have time to make alternative decisions regarding their child’s Pre-K education. Because of the controversy associated with the drawing at River Ridge Elementary, and the understanding of a parent’s right to speak publicly before the Board of Education, we have agreed to delay the drawing to give parents a voice before the Board until a final resolution can be made at River Ridge Elementary,” said Tommy Price, Superintendent of Schools.

Parents of students who were scheduled for the redrawing will be contacted by River Ridge Elementary immediately.

Board of Education meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month and begin at 5:30pm. Persons desiring to speak before the Board must register prior to 5:30pm and will be limited to three minutes.

Georgia’s Pre-K program was established in 1993 to provide Georgia’s four year old children with high quality preschool experiences. Pre-K is funded by the Georgia School Lottery program and provides pre-school classes for four year olds at thirteen of our sixteen elementary schools. Three hundred and twenty students are served each year at thirteen elementary schools. While this number has not changed since 1993, Columbia County students are also served at private child care sites throughout the county.

For more information about Georgia’s Pre-K Program visit: http://www.decal.state.ga.us/PreK/PreKMain.aspx

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