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Poland North gains new purpose as preschool
By amanda tonoli
After the elementary school moves, kindergarten through second-grade students are at Poland Union Elementary School and third-fourth grade students are at Dobbins Elementary School.
But what happened to Poland North Elementary School?
Principal Michael Masucci took the lead of both Union and North, resulting in moving Union’s preschool to the empty building.
“Because of the sheer volume of kids in this building [Union] we use every crevice,” Masucci said. “We had to move our preschool out to North. So the former Poland North Elementary is now just Poland North.”
In addition to now being a home to preschool students, North is also home to students participating in aftercare programs.
Masucci has staff at North that work almost entirely independently — and successfully so.
“I have great people over at North that really do a ton of work,” Masucci said.
Those in the preschool program now have more space and opportunities for they no longer have to share with an entire school of elementary school students — it is all their own.
What was once a two-classroom preschool has quickly become four.
“We have really enhanced our preschool program and my personal prediction is that the preschool is going to double by this time next year,” Masucci said.
North preschoolers also share space with a Mahoning County preschool that used to be at Manor Elementary in Struthers.
Working together is a big part of sharing this space dedicated now to specifically preschool students.
“We try to create a school culture where everyone is welcomed and appreciated,” Masucci said.