FALLS CITY - The Falls City School Board maintained expansion of early childhood facilities in passing its strategic goals at an October meeting.

Goals include responding to an educator shortage, broadening vocational partnerships with Southeast Community College, strengthening internal and external communications and an early childhood program facility.

Board minutes say the next step in the facility initiative is coordination with Lund Co. to discuss the planning process.

Superintendent Tim Heckenlively said the school is at its capacity for three and four-year-old preschool at 75 students but believes it could serve more students if facilities are expanded.

The school board is in the planning stages but has received conceptual drawings on the idea of adding two classrooms, a therapy room, parent meeting room and teacher offices at the North Elementary School.

The school is welcoming partnerships to expand early childhood education space both off and on-site and is working to identify possible funding sources.

Falls City was selected in 2022 as one 12 communities to receive a Nebraska Children and Families Foundation contract to increase child care capacity.