FARMINGTON – SAD 9 directors will hear a proposal Tuesday for the district to pilot a prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds who would be served by the W.G. Mallett School.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Mt. Blue Middle School.

There are preschool programs in several school systems around the state, Assistant Superintendent Sue Pratt said, and each is different.

School officials envision having two, half-day sessions and running it with partners, she said.

The program would initially be on the University of Maine at Farmington campus at a facility on Maguire Street, she said. It is expected if everything goes well it would eventually be held at the new school that will replace the Mallett School.

SAD 9 would partner with UMF, Child Development Services and Community Concepts with all parties contributing, Pratt said. The university would use the program as a preservice demonstration school for college students enrolled in particular child education programs.

“We see a real need for this in the area,” Pratt said.

The proposal calls for starting the prekindergarten program for the next school year.

The pilot program would have a limit of 32 4-year-olds from the towns of Farmington, Temple, New Vineyard, Industry and part of Chesterville, she said. If more than 32 students register, there would be a lottery to determine who attends.

Kindergarten through second grade students from those areas attend the Mallett School on Quebec Street in Farmington.

If the school board approves the program and it is successful, the plan it to expand it so all the elementary students in the district would have an opportunity to participate, Pratt said.

“It is not mandatory,” she said.

The program would also open a new revenue stream that would see the district reimbursed for each student participating in it, she said.

There is also a push from the state and federal government to have the program, she said.

“It’s very exciting to see this all come together and partners working together,” Pratt said.