Starting in August, T.C. Cherry Elementary School will be the new home for the Bowling Green Independent School District’s preschool program.

Krista Graves, the district’s preschool intervention coordinator, said the district hopes the change will give students and parents a more cohesive and communal experience.

Currently, 127 students attend programs at Parker-Bennett-Curry, Dishman-McGinnis and T.C. Cherry elementary schools, according to a news release. Bringing those programs under one roof allows the district to better target resources and provide greater consistency between schools, Graves said.

“You’re able to provide a central hub for families,” she said.

The district will provide busing for students, and it expects the change to simplify bus routes by moving programs to T.C. Cherry.

The change will also add more than 80 students to the school, which is the district’s smallest with 249 students between kindergarten and fifth grade, a news release said.

The district began its preschool program by offering it at one location, Graves said.

Graves said program attendance is driven by availability and not necessarily a child’s proximity to a school. With only 40 slots available at each school, some students are already being bused to different schools, she said.

T.C. Cherry is working on renovations as it prepares for students’ arrival this fall.

That includes moving preschool playground equipment from Dishman-McGinnis to T.C. Cherry, such as swings, a balance beam, art and music features, a bike track, a larger sandtable and an adaptive swing for students with special needs.

Classrooms will also be modified to make them more compliant with state preschool regulations, Graves said.

An open house at T.C. Cherry, complete with school tours and time for questions, is planned for April 17.

Pre-registration for preschool and kindergarten is available April 16-20. Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by Aug. 1. Preschool students must be 4 years old and meet income guidelines or 3 years old with developmental delays or a disability, according to the district.

To register, parents should bring their child’s birth certificate, a current Kentucky immunization certificate and proof of health screenings.

T.C. Cherry Principal Kory Twyman said in a news release his school is excited about the change.

“T.C. Cherry is very excited about being the preschool location for the district,” he said. “I feel like this will be an ideal situation for preschool teachers to have the opportunity to work together in a collaborative setting. I look forward to getting to know the students and their families.”