Steamboat Springs — While I don’t dismiss the merits of an early childhood education, I think as a “village” we need to thoroughly think through the idea of having Steamboat Springs School District provide preschool.

Private child care centers in this valley care for not only preschoolers, but infant and toddlers as well. If they lose their preschoolers, will they be able to sustain their infant and toddlers? I don’t know the answer to this.

Also, I think it is noble that the Steamboat Springs School District is seeing a savings by taking over our integrated preschool (one that serves special needs students in a mainstream setting). Perhaps they could invest some of the $30,000 savings into a handicap accessible playground and bus service for our special needs preschoolers. These children deserve these things.

Let’s start by enhancing the programs we have before expanding them. For this and for many other unanswered concerns that I have I am voting no on 3A and 3B.

Mary Anderson

Steamboat Springs