Clancy School board approves launch of new pre-K program

The Clancy Elementary School Board voted Feb. 11 to proceed with the launch of a new Early Literacy Program (ELP) for pre-kindergarten students. The program is set to launch in the 2025-26 academic year.

The vote was not unanimous, reflecting some hesitancy about the cost, and associated risk, of the program. But most members were swayed by Superintendent Daryl Mikesell, who has been an advocate for the ELP. Clancy Elementary is one of the few schools in the county without such a program, prompting concerns that it could lose student enrollment to competing schools.

Mikesell has had some experience in developing Early Learning Programs for schools, having been instrumental in the implementation of a similar program while principal at Montana City School.