MELP

Due to the unprecedented funding cuts in education at the State level, the Morrison School
District is facing significant reductions in key programs for the coming year. The state
grant funded Morrison Early Learning Program (MELP), which serves our community's
at-risk preschool population, is one of the programs that will be forced to be reduced if the
State follows through on the proposed funding cuts. Forty children now attend MELP with
a waiting list of at least fifteen more eligible children. These children qualify for the at-risk
program based on environmental risk factos and scores on the developmental preschool
screening held each spring. The MELP program could be cut in half next year, or
eliminated altogther if the funding that is still owed to the district for this year is not paid
or funding for next year is cut altogether.

Too many of our community's at-risk children are already not receiving the preschool
education they deserve because of lack of space in the MELP program. A group of
concrened parents has come together to explore outside funding options for the MELP
program, but time is running out for the coming school year. From this exploration into
funding options, the establishment of a Morrison Schools Foundation has emerged, and is
currently in the preliminary stages of development.

A short temrm goal of continuing to explore options to fund MELP in the coming year, the
Foundation's long term vision is to eventually work to support programs such as MELP and
so many other valuable programs throughout our school district, so that our students can
continue to receive the best education our community can deliver. If you would like to
help explore options to fund MELP please contact Andrea.