Putnam County School Officials working on the plans for how the Early Learning Academy will work and how the rollout will best take place for the next school year.
The old Park View facility will house all the pre-K programs in Cookeville. Putnam County Schools Voluntary Pre-K Coordinator Allison Painter said most things are in place to open the new school.
“There will be furniture and of course, most importantly, our students and our faculty and staff,” Painter said. “The faculty and staff who are at current locations in Pre-K in the Cookeville and Algood area will be moving alongside to the new Early Learning Academy.”
School board members and other school officials have had concerns with the timeline of the remodel’s completion. Painter said the delay has not caused drastic issues with prepping to open the school and believes everything will be in place before the next school year starts.
“I feel confident with the summer coming up, there’s going to be lots of opportunity for myself and others to get in there and get some things done that we need to get done, but I feel confident that it’s making steady progress and we’ll be ready to welcome students in the 26-27 school year,” Painter said.
Painter said that while launching a new school can be a complex process, the experience is a collaborative effort rather than a difficult one.
“I wouldn’t call it an easy or difficult process… it’s just a learning process,” Painter said.
Painter said enrollment for the Early Learning Academy is already underway. She said parents can pick up applications at any elementary school or the district’s central office, and children must be four years old on or before August 15 to qualify. Painter said the school is open to any eligible child living in Putnam County, rather than being limited to a specific school zone.
The district has been working to spread awareness about the new school through social media, local organizations, and community partners, including libraries and healthcare providers.
As construction progresses, Painter said the focus remains on creating a space that supports early childhood development and prepares students for long-term academic success.
